A destination for pilgrimages and walks but also a place to visit for the artistic works kept in it, the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie di Ardesio is one of the most important places of worship in ValSeriana, in the province of Bergamo, as well as a splendid example of Baroque art. Entering the Shrine of Ardesio means entering a reflective and introspective dimension, very far from everyday life. Here, time and people stop and observe.
The Sanctuary houses numerous works of great historical importance, such as the organ by Giovanni Rogantino di Morbegno from 1636 and the painting of the Sacred Images from the 15th century, placed above the altar where the prodigious apparition of the Mary took place in 1607. On the sides of the presbytery there are two ovals, works of Guadagnini, as well as the two altarpieces in the center of the church. On the side of the confessional dominates the altarpiece of the Coronation of Mary, attributed to Palma il Giovane; the wooden sculpture of the Apparition, a handcrafted work from Val Gardena, is stored in the crypt , while the room of the ex-votos and the room of the Sacred Sepulcher hold a bunch of beautifully crafted sculptures, attributed to the Fantoni workshop.
For the inauguration of the new parish priest Don Antonio Locatelli, the community contacted Telmotor – an industrial player that offers highly specialized solution for the lightning sector, industrial automation and energy and supplier of integrated consultancy for the industry world, infrastructure and the tertiary sector – for the realization of a new lighting project. Target: enhance the artworks and the entire architectural structure with a uniform ambient lighting project and precise direct lighting on the most valuable artworks, guaranteeing intelligent management of lighting scenarios with specific and pre-set sets for each type of celebration.
“Lighting can and must contribute to the overview and detail view, accompanying the visitor and the faithful in the contrast between light and dark, indicating architectural hierarchies, conditions of solemnity or meditative recollection. It is therefore important to develop a project that correctly balances natural and artificial light and that maintains the balance between indirect and direct lightning. For the Sanctuary of Ardesio was also necessary to solve the critical issues of refractions and reflections, typical of light sources directed towards works of art, whether they are paintings or architectural elements of value. Thanks to the specific know-how of our working group, made up of lighting consultants and programmers, we started from the preventive mapping of spaces and recurring moments of celebration and from the positioning study, pointing and optics to develop an overall non-invasive project, smart and easily adjusted and operated form tablet, restoring maximum value to this place of worship”, said Alessandro Vaglietti, Head of Energy&Lighting Solutions at Telmotor.
The lighting project
Smart management, study of lighting fixtures, punctuality of ignition, dynamism and power of light were the base elements of the project development. Positioning, powers and opening beams of the used products were studied, which allowed the management of various scenarios.
The internal lighting project was developed considering the primary function of the church, which is to bring together the assembly of the faithful for the celebration of religious rites; particular attention has been paid to the lighting as a whole thing and to its various details, avoiding refraction phenomena and reducing light contrasts. Maximum attention was paid to performance and energy saving, to the distribution system and to the study of lighting fixtures, all the highest range, compact dimensions and simple geometries. All with a coordination work between all the professionals involved, both on the installation and on the planning and commissioning side, the Curia of Bergamo.
The luminaires have been chosen to guarantee correct lighting, without neglecting the aesthetic aspect and the non-harmfulness of the luminous flux that illuminates historical-artistic artworks. Lumen Pulse products allowed an effective positioning and aiming thanks to the double joint that guarantees specific orientation. The equipment, with his precision optics and beam gradations between 10° and 40°, makes possible to highlight specific areas, such as painting and architectural sections. All the projectors guarantee a color rendering index RA 90+, color stability and discreet insertion in complex scenarios such as the Sanctuary.
For the indirect lighting that also highlights the vaults, the choise fell on the Led Linear Luminaris ECO P23 range, a continuous row lighting fixture: dedicated optics for light uniformity and RA 90+ color rendering.
The DALI2 interface system for digital lighting control offers a simple protocol for dynamic installations and the possibility of regulating and managing the various functions in real time both for zones and for the entire room, thanks to its control via Bluetooth.
The result of this project, inaugurated on 7th December 2022 for the feast of the Immaculate Conception, satisfied the needs and guarantees the right combinations of liturgical light, architectural light and adequate functional light.
About Telmotor SpA
Telmotor SpA was born in Bergamo in 1973 as a company specialized in electrical supplies and in in the distribution of quality products and brands for industrial automation. Telmotor has progressively expanded its skills to the energy distribution, lighting, building & home technology and renewable energy sectors over the years, managing wide-ranging integrated solutions for the world of industry, infrastructure and the tertiary sector.
Made up of two large Business Units – Industry Automation and Energy & Lighting Solutions – Telmotor has twelve different corporate offices and 330 collaborators today, reaching a turnover of 200 million of Euros. The high technical profile of the company, the qualified and constantly updated staff, the aptitude for problem solving, the careful selection of the brands and products managed, the speed of service, customer advice and the attention to the evolution of the sector are the distinctive features of the company philosophy that have made Telmotor a reference point at an international level.
In 2021, to continue the path of growth and enhancement of its distinctive trait devoted to innovation, Telmotor built a network of companies called “Digginova” to propose innovative digital solutions including Networks and Cybersecurity, Building solutions, Robotics, Virtual commissioning, artificial intelligence, etc. It is an holding company, 100% owned by Telmotor, set up with the aim of creating relationships and partnership capable of expanding skills and services for customers who are increasingly looking for integrated solutions.
Telmotor is the only Siemens Solution Partner distributor in the Digital Factory and Process Industries Divisions on the Italian and international market.