HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The complex of Santa Maria in Gradi, currently seat of the Rectorate and some departments of University of Tuscia, has been a Dominican convent for several years and more recently became a prison.   

In the medieval cloister, dating back to the mid-13th century and subject of this interventation, the original decorative apparatus can still be seen: five five-light windows with pointed arches on each side, which rest on 160 paired marble columns. In the center of the cloister there is a a well dated 1557, positioned on a base made up of tombstones recovered from the ancient Church of S. Maria in Gradi.   

PROJECT

The lighting project for the medieval cloister of the Santa Maria in Gradi complex was created thanks to the collaboration among the Studio Due Technical Department, the Technical Office of the University of Tuscia and Architects and Lighting Designers Carolina De Camillis and Riccardo Fibbi.  

For the installation, custom Studio Due luminaires (Cloister Light), consisting of 3 groups of 4 individually tiltable leds of limited height, were used. The above mentioned leds were positioned between the columns and the start of the ribs and designed specifically for each individual capital. Inside the courtyard the lighting system has been restored and improved: the central well and the perimeter columns have been illuminated with Studio Due Terra WL5 fixtures with 17° tilt filters which divert the light flow towards the center of the courtyard.