General Lighting for the New LUISS Amphitheater | iGuzzini

iGuzzini is an Italian company dedicated to the design and manufacture of lamps and lighting systems for every architectural and design endeavor. This new building for the LUISS University complex applies lighting fixtures from the indoor and outdoor catalogs by iGuzzini, particularly for large, public lighting endeavors.

Designed by Alvisi Kirimoto and Studio Gemma, the new hub is immersed in the greenery of the LUISS Guido Carli University complex, close to Villa Ada, in the heart of Rome's Parioli district.

The project, which complements the university spaces and enhances the surrounding green areas, reclaims space by demolishing an existing warehouse and constructing a completely new educational building. This structure, which consists of two floors and covers a total area of 1,500 square meters, is located at the most accessible and scenic point in the complex, near a wood located to the south of the lot. The project is based on the idea of raising the building, so it is in direct contact with the treetops and frees as much of the ground floor as possible. This floor houses the entrance, a classroom, and facilities, while the upper floor includes an amphitheater and two classrooms.

In the words of its architects, the building is lit to

"...look as though it is suspended in the darkness like a lantern with a candle inside..."

The versatile interiors can host a wide range of educational activities and cultural, artistic, and social events, from conferences to classroom lectures, and gala evenings to film showings. The multi-purpose amphitheater and the classrooms, which are specifically designed to redefine the balance between in-person and remote teaching are equipped with audio-video conferencing facilities and systems that are integrated with the architecture.

Between the suspended acoustic panels that define the coral-red ceiling of the amphitheater, low voltage tracks have been installed to power the Ø 62 mm Palco projectors that are fitted with flood optics for diffuse and homogeneous direct lighting. Similar red panels are used in the two classrooms, but they are square to allow iN60 luminaires with general light optics to be installed, in some places in continuous rows. The furnishings are the same bright red color, even outside. This detail adds visual consistency to the entire complex, especially when the upper volume is lit in the evening.

A staircase with crisscrossing ramps connects the two floors internally via a double-height space, while a third staircase connects the first floor to the outdoors. During the day, lighting in this area relies mainly on its inflow of natural light. While, in the evening, adjustable recessed Laser luminaires with wide flood optics generate diffuse, homogeneous lighting.

The ground floor, which is visibly set back, emphasizes the lightness of the upper volume and creates a space that is both open and covered at the same time, and equipped for outdoor classes and activities. At night, the diffused lighting provided by Underscore inOut luminaires installed between the wooden slats of the ceiling helps to create the impression that the upper part of the building is floating in space.

All the outdoor areas are equipped and organized to encourage study, informal gatherings, relaxation, and play by being incredibly flexible and offering endless possibilities for people to meet. At night they are lit by pole-mounted Twilight Bilbao luminaires with symmetrical optics, installed along the pathways. Inspired by sustainable design principles and made of natural materials, the building has been awarded LEED Platinum certification.