Prof. Nuno Soares wins Architecture Madrid Award with Macau Cathedral Lighting Design project
Prof. Nuno Soares wins Architecture Madrid Award with Macau Cathedral Lighting Design project
10
Sep
10/09/2024
Prof. Nuno Soares, Head of the Department of Architecture and Design at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of USJ, has received Nomination Award in the Interior Lighting Design Category at the Architecture Madrid Awards 2023, for the Macau Cathedral Lighting Design project.
Prof. Nuno Soares, Head of the Department of Architecture and Design at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of USJ, has received Nomination Award in the Interior Lighting Design Category at the Architecture Madrid Awards 2023, for the Macau Cathedral Lighting Design project, which was designed by Prof. Nuno Soares and his architecture office – Urban Practice.
Faced with the challenge of preserving the historical integrity of a building built before the advent of electricity, Urban Practice carried out the subtle concept of “invisible lighting”, resulting in the design and development of a series of custom-made fixtures that were designed to “not be seen”, giving the Cathedral’s interior a sense of larger and brighter space and allowing the light to reveal the interior’s details without compromising the historical integrity.
Built in 1564, the Macau Cathedral, also called “Church of the Nativity of Our Lady”, is snuggled among the city center’s narrow alleyways, being rebuilt into its current configuration in 1844–50. It was enlisted as World Heritage by UNESCO in 2005, and it´s the largest and most prominent Catholic building in Macau.
The carefully choreographed articulation between the lighting strategy and the particular lighting design can now highlight the Macau Cathedral’s already pre-existing historical features, such as the stained glass hidden elements, the interior walls with elegant details, and the altar and chapels displaying key religious figures.
The Macau Cathedral Lighting Design project had the purpose of revealing what was already present but not deservedly emphasized, as well as giving the space its actual importance and scale. Worshippers and visitors can now contemplate the space, reflect, and have a tranquil and unique spatial experience in one of Macau’s most significant religious buildings.
The Architecture Madrid Awards aim to recognize the excellence of all those professionals in the architecture and design industry. The awards are a collaboration between China and Europe, being co-organized by Madrid World Capital of Engineering, Construction and Architecture (MWCC), China International Interior Design Network (CIID88), and Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Madrid (COAM).
More about the Macau Cathedral Lighting Design Award and Architecture Madrid Awards can be found here: https://ama-award.es/projets/macau-cathedral-lighting-design/
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