Disano

Bethlem, Palestine

The Basilica of the Nativity

Art and Culture

Designer:

ABM Technology - Studio Tecnico Altieri

1/5

For Christians around the world, the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem is the place of worship par excellence, as it was built exactly on the place where Jesus Christ was born. Its imposing structure consists of two churches and a crypt preserving the cave with the manger, where the Virgin Mary gave birth to the newborn baby Jesus.

Its construction, which began in 327 and was completed in 339 A.D., was wanted by Emperor Constantine I and his mother Helena. After being destroyed during the Samaritan revolt in the 6th century, Justinian ordered its renovation and extension. Over the following centuries, monasteries and chapels were built, increasing the size of the Basilica, which currently consists of five naves, measuring totally almost 54 metres in length and about 26 metres in width.

This extraordinary architectural complex, predominantly in Romanesque and Neo-Gothic styles, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012.

Given its great historical, artistic and religious value, the renovation works, which lasted eight years, were carried out under the supervision of the Palestinian Presidential Committee for the Restoration of the Church of the Nativity. Works officially started in 2013 to repair the damage caused by various factors, from water infiltration to candle smoke, to the numerous lootings, wars and earthquakes. All this was the subject of a careful study that, among other things, also defined the parameters for the installation of new lights.

Drawing on its great expertise in the delicate field of architectural and museum lighting, Disano and Fosnova (Disano Group) in collaboration with Beam Engineering Technology Ltd., took care of the lighting set-up, which was made with the most high-performance LED technology, guaranteeing a very high quality, energy-efficient and safe light emission.

Fosnova Vision 2.0 floodlights were used. These technical lights are equipped with LED sources that ensure high light flux maintenance throughout the sources’ very long lifespan and allow an unprecedented reduction of energy and maintenance costs. Moreover, the system emits stable and flicker-free light output, to the great benefit of the visual well-being of users.

Vision 2.0 is the ideal product when it comes to architectural lighting: its excellent colour rendering index guarantees natural colours, while the high quality of its emission perfectly illuminates works of art, sacred objects as well as various artistic artefacts, which are highlighted perfectly and safely. In addition, its minimalist and elegant body blends well with the interiors, illuminating the Basilica discreetly while favouring moments of recollection and prayer.

The lighting system designed by Disano took full advantage of the many benefits of the latest generation of LEDs, providing the Basilica of the Nativity with comfortable lighting for visitors and pilgrims, while preserving the precious art it displays.

Art and Culture

Razstave, muzeji, verski objekti, šole