Gallarate Lightscape, Italy

Gallarate Lightscape is an urban lighting project that reimagines the historic centre of Gallarate through a carefully crafted nighttime narrative, using light as a medium to reveal history, identity and atmosphere.

Designed by Romano Baratta Lighting Studio, in collaboration with formalighting and the Municipality of Gallarate, the project demonstrates how sensitive, contemporary lighting design can transform a public space without overpowering its architectural and cultural heritage.

Rather than attempting to replicate daytime conditions, the lighting strategy embraces the expressive nature of darkness. The project is founded on the belief that night should remain distinct from day, offering a different mode of perception and engagement. Light is therefore used selectively and purposefully, creating contrast, depth and moments of discovery that encourage reflection and emotional connection.

At the core of the concept is the idea of a ‘Visual Guide’ – a layered lighting narrative that reveals Gallarate’s defining architectural elements, historic strata, and overlooked details. Streets, squares and monuments are illuminated as part of a coherent urban composition, guiding residents and visitors through the historic centre while allowing each area to retain its own identity. Subtle variations in colour temperature, intensity and rhythm articulate the city’s spatial hierarchy and historical elements.

The lighting design draws directly from Gallarate’s origins, including its ancient waterways, medieval urban structure, and former ancient districts. Colour is used sparingly and symbolically, with seven distinct tones integrated into a dynamic scenographic system, each representing the city’s historical elements. These variations shift gently throughout the evening, ensuring the nighttime landscape remains engaging without becoming intrusive or theatrical.

formalighting supported the project with a fully customised outdoor lighting solution, supplying 170 units of the Volume projector, adapted to the site’s specific architectural conditions and visual requirements. Integrated with a Casambi wireless control system, the installation allows precise control, scene flexibility, and long-term adaptability. This approach ensures that the lighting can evolve in response to seasonal changes, civic events, and future urban needs.

A key challenge of the project was balancing innovation with restraint. The lighting enhances façades, urban details, and public routes while respecting the materiality and patina of historic buildings. Areas of shadow are preserved as deliberately as the illuminated zones – reinforcing depth and visual hierarchy while avoiding visual fatigue.

Gallarate Lightscape goes beyond functional illumination to become a cultural and social catalyst. By redefining how the historic city centre is experienced after dark, the project strengthens civic identity, encourages evening activity, and supports social and commercial regeneration. It stands as an example of how contemporary lighting design can honour heritage, shape perception, and create meaningful nighttime environments rooted in place and memory.