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HOME / Projects / Projects / Museum / Italy | Milan | Luigi Rovati Foundation

Italy | Milan | Luigi Rovati Foundation

The historic Bocconi-Rizzoli-Carraro building is to be reopened to the public to house a collection of Etruscan artifacts, an extraordinary assortment of 700 vases dating back to the period between the 9th and 6th centuries BC. Part of the architectural project concerns the extension of the building’s basement and the construction and set-up of the underground museum. Architect Cucinella designed stone domes to evoke Etruscan tombs. The contemporary and highly technological space allows visitors to enter the narrative of the exhibition. The museum, which will occupy about 1,500 square meters, will thus extend over three floors. The entrance will become a reception area, consisting of a ticket office, café, and bookshop. Part of the collection - specifically dedicated to funeral objects - will be displayed in highly technological underground spaces, while the rest of the collection will be located on the first floor, in halls conserving the charm of yesteryear. The second floor will house a library, conference hall, and a workshop area for kids. The project lighting system has been designed to improve the quality of the perception of the light within the space and its use. It aims to emphasize the underground dimension of the museum, creating a kind of half-light, like that of underground anthropological constructions, but at the same time, it attempts to highlight the value of the displayed objects through light, literally bringing them to light, while respecting the quality of the wood, materials, colors, and shapes. The light will thus be perfectly integrated with the museum’s technology.

Goal

On the underground floor, the aim is to reproduce an underground architecture characterised by three large domes that generate a mystical, suspended atmosphere. While the main floor is transformed into an exhibition space. In museum lighting design projects, the exhibition space is a perceptive environment in which displays, pathways, information systems and lighting come together. Lighting design plays an important role because it contributes to visual comfort by eliminating unpleasant situations. By designing the light, undesirable problems such as non-uniformity of illuminance on exhibits, shadows cast, 'smearing' of light on exhibition surfaces, glare, etc. are avoided.


Client:
Piero Castiglioni

Collaborations:
FIDIM- Fondazione Luigi Rovati
Mario Cucinella Architects
Goppion
Manens–Tifs

Photo Courtesy:
Giovanni de Sandre per Fondazione Luigi Rovati

Year:
2018 - 2021


Italy | Milan | Luigi Rovati Foundation

The historic Bocconi-Rizzoli-Carraro building is to be reopened to the public to house a collection of Etruscan artifacts, an extraordinary assortment of 700 vases dating back to the period between the 9th and 6th centuries BC. Part of the architectural project concerns the extension of the building’s basement and the construction and set-up of the underground museum. Architect Cucinella designed stone domes to evoke Etruscan tombs. The contemporary and highly technological space allows visitors to enter the narrative of the exhibition. The museum, which will occupy about 1,500 square meters, will thus extend over three floors. The entrance will become a reception area, consisting of a ticket office, café, and bookshop. Part of the collection - specifically dedicated to funeral objects - will be displayed in highly technological underground spaces, while the rest of the collection will be located on the first floor, in halls conserving the charm of yesteryear. The second floor will house a library, conference hall, and a workshop area for kids. The project lighting system has been designed to improve the quality of the perception of the light within the space and its use. It aims to emphasize the underground dimension of the museum, creating a kind of half-light, like that of underground anthropological constructions, but at the same time, it attempts to highlight the value of the displayed objects through light, literally bringing them to light, while respecting the quality of the wood, materials, colors, and shapes. The light will thus be perfectly integrated with the museum’s technology.

Goal

On the underground floor, the aim is to reproduce an underground architecture characterised by three large domes that generate a mystical, suspended atmosphere. While the main floor is transformed into an exhibition space. In museum lighting design projects, the exhibition space is a perceptive environment in which displays, pathways, information systems and lighting come together. Lighting design plays an important role because it contributes to visual comfort by eliminating unpleasant situations. By designing the light, undesirable problems such as non-uniformity of illuminance on exhibits, shadows cast, 'smearing' of light on exhibition surfaces, glare, etc. are avoided.


Client:
Piero Castiglioni

Collaborations:
FIDIM- Fondazione Luigi Rovati
Mario Cucinella Architects
Goppion
Manens–Tifs

Photo Courtesy:
Giovanni de Sandre per Fondazione Luigi Rovati

Year:
2018 - 2021


Other Projects

Other Projects

This section brings together a representative selection of lighting design projects in the architectural, museum, urban, cultural, retail, hospitality, and infrastructure sectors, both in Italy and abroad. The gallery documents projects of varying scale, function, and context, all sharing an approach to light as a tool for interpreting space, capable of engaging with architecture, artworks, landscape, and contemporary use.

The projects presented range from museums, foundations, and temporary exhibitions to historic buildings, places of worship, public spaces, and urban complexes, including corporate headquarters, private residences, yachts, and lighting masterplans. In each project, light is designed as a controlled material, calibrated to the characteristics of the location, its functional needs, and the perceptual quality of the experience.

Taken together, the collected works convey a vision of lighting design as an integrated process, in which technical rigor, cultural sensitivity, and attention to context contribute to the construction of spatial identity, orientation, and value. The gallery thus takes the form of a design map, capable of demonstrating how light can take on different roles—discrete or declared—while always maintaining coherence, measure, and design awareness.

This section brings together a representative selection of lighting design projects in the architectural, museum, urban, cultural, retail, hospitality, and infrastructure sectors, both in Italy and abroad. The gallery documents projects of varying scale, function, and context, all sharing an approach to light as a tool for interpreting space, capable of engaging with architecture, artworks, landscape, and contemporary use.

The projects presented range from museums, foundations, and temporary exhibitions to historic buildings, places of worship, public spaces, and urban complexes, including corporate headquarters, private residences, yachts, and lighting masterplans. In each project, light is designed as a controlled material, calibrated to the characteristics of the location, its functional needs, and the perceptual quality of the experience.

Taken together, the collected works convey a vision of lighting design as an integrated process, in which technical rigor, cultural sensitivity, and attention to context contribute to the construction of spatial identity, orientation, and value. The gallery thus takes the form of a design map, capable of demonstrating how light can take on different roles—discrete or declared—while always maintaining coherence, measure, and design awareness.

Yacht Sailing Boat Mandrake - main project view
Yacht Mangusta 130 MAO internal view - retail lighting design
The lighting that delineates the passageways
Turkey Bodrum Vicem Lu frontal view - building lights
Turkey Antakya Museum Hotel
External view of Ursy primary school
External view of Ex-Chiattone Palace
Lausanne ECA Headquarters: external view - architectural lighting
Geneva Saint-Pierre Cathedral main view - museum lighting design
Night view of the Cathedral of St. Pierre.
2016 | Switzerland | Geneva | Conservatoire de Musique
Fribourg St. Pierre Church in Switzerland - internal view
Sala del Gran Consiglio, Friburgo - Lights
External view of the Church in Bironico
Internal view of El Prat airport in Barcelona
Lighting Device Tarsius - two led light design
Light design mitic suspension - led lightsing design
Monastero di Viboldone: Lights Projects - building lights
Italy Venice Papadopoli Palace Aman Resorts
works by the artist Emilio Isgrò
Historical city center
Trento MUSE Science Museum - main project view
Le Sicilie by Emilio Isgrò, the exhibition of his works
San Pellegrino Flagship Factory: Architectural Lighting
San Donato SNAM Headquarters - architectural lighting
San Donato ENI Headquarters - main project view
View of the illuminated entrance of Cisterna hotel in Trastevere
Baths of Diocletian
The external space of the MAXXI in Rome with the works of Emilio Isgrò
Rome Imperial Forums - main project view
Rome Baths of Diocletian I Segreti del Cielo Cascella Exhibition - main project view
Pordenone St. Mark's Bell Tower night view - building lighting design
External view of the Hotel Olangerhof at Plan de Corones
San Francesco Airport: Lights Project
Palermo Branciforte Palace - project view
Dugnano Public Library Tilane relax room - building lights
Triennale Palace Pierluigi Ghianda Exhibition - main project view
Palace Gae Aulenti Exhibition: Bio of Gae Aulenti
Isgrò exhibition at Palazzo Reale in Milan, lighting of the hall
Royal Palace Artemisia Gentileschi Exhibition - main project view
Italy Milan Rota Gavazzi Palace
Italy Milan Private House Light Fall stair - led light design
Milan Portello district
Pierluigi Ghianda Library detail
Italy Milan Gallery M77 Exhibition Emilio Isgro
Jil Sander Showroom in Milan - main project view
Expo 2015 in Milan Lighting Masterplan
Italy Milan Private Museum Institute Emilio e Scilla Isgrò
Overall view of the City Wave complex
Church of Santa Maria Rossa - main project view
Brera Botanical Garden - main project view
Mantova Te Palace Civic Museum - main project view
external view of the building in Fidenza
Schifanoia Palace The Months Hall main view - building lighting design
Como Ex St. Francis Church Silvano Bulgari Exhibition - main project view
Showroom Miticauto ferrari car - retail lighting design
One of Emilio Isgrò's works
Italy Bergamo Routes EXPO 2015 - led light design
Italy Alessandria Vetus Palace
Iran Ahvaz Bridges lighting
Hungary Budapest Klotild Palace
Hong Kong Chin Lin Main Hall
Hong Kong Chin Li Pagoda
Overall view of the Showroom with the lighting fixtures on the ceiling and on the walls
Yacht Sailing Boat Mandrake - main project view
Yacht Mangusta 130 MAO internal view - retail lighting design
The lighting that delineates the passageways
Turkey Bodrum Vicem Lu frontal view - building lights
Turkey Antakya Museum Hotel
External view of Ursy primary school
External view of Ex-Chiattone Palace
Lausanne ECA Headquarters: external view - architectural lighting
Geneva Saint-Pierre Cathedral main view - museum lighting design
Night view of the Cathedral of St. Pierre.
2016 | Switzerland | Geneva | Conservatoire de Musique
Fribourg St. Pierre Church in Switzerland - internal view
Sala del Gran Consiglio, Friburgo - Lights
External view of the Church in Bironico
Internal view of El Prat airport in Barcelona
Lighting Device Tarsius - two led light design
Light design mitic suspension - led lightsing design
Monastero di Viboldone: Lights Projects - building lights
Italy Venice Papadopoli Palace Aman Resorts
works by the artist Emilio Isgrò
Historical city center
Trento MUSE Science Museum - main project view
Le Sicilie by Emilio Isgrò, the exhibition of his works
San Pellegrino Flagship Factory: Architectural Lighting
San Donato SNAM Headquarters - architectural lighting
San Donato ENI Headquarters - main project view
View of the illuminated entrance of Cisterna hotel in Trastevere
Baths of Diocletian
The external space of the MAXXI in Rome with the works of Emilio Isgrò
Rome Imperial Forums - main project view
Rome Baths of Diocletian I Segreti del Cielo Cascella Exhibition - main project view
Pordenone St. Mark's Bell Tower night view - building lighting design
External view of the Hotel Olangerhof at Plan de Corones
San Francesco Airport: Lights Project
Palermo Branciforte Palace - project view
Dugnano Public Library Tilane relax room - building lights
Triennale Palace Pierluigi Ghianda Exhibition - main project view
Palace Gae Aulenti Exhibition: Bio of Gae Aulenti
Isgrò exhibition at Palazzo Reale in Milan, lighting of the hall
Royal Palace Artemisia Gentileschi Exhibition - main project view
Italy Milan Rota Gavazzi Palace
Italy Milan Private House Light Fall stair - led light design
Milan Portello district
Pierluigi Ghianda Library detail
Italy Milan Gallery M77 Exhibition Emilio Isgro
Jil Sander Showroom in Milan - main project view
Expo 2015 in Milan Lighting Masterplan
Italy Milan Private Museum Institute Emilio e Scilla Isgrò
Overall view of the City Wave complex
Church of Santa Maria Rossa - main project view
Brera Botanical Garden - main project view
Mantova Te Palace Civic Museum - main project view
external view of the building in Fidenza
Schifanoia Palace The Months Hall main view - building lighting design
Como Ex St. Francis Church Silvano Bulgari Exhibition - main project view
Showroom Miticauto ferrari car - retail lighting design
One of Emilio Isgrò's works
Italy Bergamo Routes EXPO 2015 - led light design
Italy Alessandria Vetus Palace
Iran Ahvaz Bridges lighting
Hungary Budapest Klotild Palace
Hong Kong Chin Lin Main Hall
Hong Kong Chin Li Pagoda
Overall view of the Showroom with the lighting fixtures on the ceiling and on the walls
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