Soboras Church, an iconic landmark in Kaunas, Lithuania, is undergoing a transformative lighting upgrade as part of its renovation and the city’s broader modernization initiative. The new lighting design balances heritage preservation with modern technological advancements, ensuring the church remains a visually striking centerpiece while meeting contemporary sustainability standards.
The lighting concept is driven by the principle of showcasing light rather than the luminaires themselves. A multi-layered approach has been implemented to highlight the church’s architectural beauty, ensuring that each element is enhanced in a way that respects the original structure. The first lighting layer provides uniform illumination across the façade, gently washing the entire building with light to define its form and presence. This base layer ensures visibility from all angles without exposing the light sources, maintaining the integrity of the church’s historical character.
A second, more refined lighting layer focuses on key architectural details such as columns, arches, and intricate carvings. This targeted illumination creates a subtle contrast, drawing attention to the church’s rich textures and depth while remaining discreet in its execution. The precise placement of these lights ensures that the details emerge naturally, avoiding harsh contrasts that could compromise the building’s aesthetic harmony.
To further enhance the experience for visitors and passersby, special consideration has been given to the ground-level lighting. The luminance in the surrounding square is intentionally kept lower to minimize glare for pedestrians while maintaining a welcoming and safe ambiance. In contrast, the upper sections of the church are illuminated with greater intensity, reinforcing its visibility from afar and solidifying its role as a prominent landmark within the urban fabric of Kaunas.
Sustainability plays a crucial role in this lighting upgrade. The outdated metal-halide and sodium-vapor fixtures have been replaced with high-efficiency LED luminaires, significantly reducing energy consumption. The selection of these fixtures aligns with circular economy principles, ensuring that light sources can be replaced without discarding entire luminaires. This forward-thinking approach extends the lifecycle of the fixtures and minimizes waste, making the project environmentally responsible.
In the surrounding square, newly designed luminaires echo the aesthetic of the original historical fixtures while integrating advanced LED technology. All luminaires are either seamlessly integrated within architectural elements or equipped with anti-glare and anti-spill visors to prevent unnecessary light pollution. This careful control of light distribution enhances the nocturnal environment, providing clarity and warmth without contributing to urban light spill.
The entire lighting system is fully integrated with Kaunas’ smart lighting infrastructure. Using DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) control, the luminaires can adapt to different conditions through dynamic lighting scenarios. This capability ensures energy efficiency by reducing illumination levels when full brightness is unnecessary while allowing for special settings during events or religious ceremonies.
Ultimately, the lighting upgrade of Soboras Church represents a fusion of tradition and innovation. By emphasizing architectural beauty, sustainability, and adaptability, the design respects the past while embracing the future, ensuring that Soboras remains a beacon of light for Kaunas and its visitors for generations to come.
