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A majestic light. Seu Vella

The old cathedral complex of Seu Vella is the most important symbol of Lleida, capital of the province having the same name, in the western part of Catalonia.

The entire Seu Vella is carved and decorated, with all parts plainly in evidence during the day, but requiring illumination after dark. The first step was one of conducting an analysis on the various parts of the Cathedral, to establish priorities and divide the project into stages.
The main façades and the bell tower required attention first.

With the need to identify strategic areas where light points could be positioned, the octagonal shape of the tower suggested a geometrical approach. The designers picked out four corner angles on the tower, from which beams would be thrown onto the two adjoining faces and the octagon thus enveloped in light. Bearing in mind the yellow ochre colour of the stone from which the tower is built, it was decided to install Maxi Woody units with superspot optical assemblies, using and 250 W and 400 W sodium vapour lamps. The fixtures were specified with Fresnel lenses and directional louvres in order to generate an elliptical beam that would illuminate the full surface of the tower and avoid casting light where there is no need, in the interests of minimising light pollution.

The architectural forms and reliefs are highlighted with accent lights using metal halide sources, designed to create pinpoint contrasts with the yellow sodium floodlighting. Accents were needed on the flanks of the buttresses, the bays, and the top of the tower. The tower terminates uppermost in a Gothic cluster of spirelets, finials and cusps, picked out by bright light that grows dim gradually as it spreads down toward the lower floors. The accent illumination adopted for the cloister façade is designed to throw the buttresses into relief, using recessed Light Up fixtures with metal halide lamps, installed at ground level.