Illuminating the heart of Milan: The UniCredit Pavilion

In contrast to the cold, technical style of the neighbouring architecture, De Lucchi designed the pavilion occupying the centre of the square as an organic wooden building, its outline reminiscent of a pebble or seed. The formwork of vertical wooden ribs with horizontally arranged slats made of larch wood embraces a glazed core accommodating the auditorium on the ground floor, a versatile exhibition space on the mezzanine floor, and the "Greenhouse" Lounge under the curved roof. The structure as a whole gives the impression of a monumental lantern that, lit from within, creates a brilliant focal point on the new Piazza. Deliberately set against the surrounding high-tech compositions of steel and glass, the pavilion stands apart in its organic design and natural fabric, intensified by warm white light at 3000K to illuminate its interior and exterior.

Efficient ERCO LED lighting tools for the pavilion façade and core

In addition to precision lighting for the façade, the decision was made to illuminate the wooden soffit of the interior with the efficient and innovative ERCO lighting tools. Lightboard recessed floodlights in 48W warm white are mounted in the side girders, washing the vaulted ceiling of the pavilion with brilliant light. Set back from the glass façade, the shear walls embracing the building’s core across all floors are uniformally illuminated using Compact lens wallwashers in 24W and 32W warm white integrated in the ceiling, affording a view inside the pavilion at night or in passing, revealing interior aspects such as the exhibits.

Architect and lighting designer Alexander Bellman, who founded Gruppo C14 in Milan in 2003 and currently employs a 20-strong team, values the collaboration with ERCO, praising the quality of ERCO lighting tools: "The energy efficiency, long life and low maintenance requirements of the products are compelling," the lighting designer explains, continuing: "Another strong argument is the use of Spherolit lenses to ensure perfect visual control for a precisely planned and implemented lighting concept – giving us absolute certainty in planning. Visuals and the actual result are virtually congruent."