Illuminating contemporary art within a historical setting requires a delicate balance between respect for pre-existing architecture and the need to enhance the works on display. This is the challenge won in the new exhibition space of the Zappettini Foundation for Contemporary Art, located in the historic rooms of Villa Zappettini (eclectic building of 1929) in Corso Buenos Aires in Chiavari (GE).
For this prestigious total renovation project, curated by Martina Zappettini Architect of MZ Studio, lighting has been entrusted to the technology and design of the LINE48 MAGNETIC system of LEDCO, demonstrating how light can become a real structural and narrative element.
The Architectural Concept: A Spatial Continuum
The Foundation, which houses the Archive of the works of the painter Gianfranco Zappettini and also organises exhibitions of other contemporary artists, needed a fluid environment. The spaces of the villa have been reconfigured to create both a physical and visual continuum.
This result was obtained through geometric and punctual cuts along the internal partition walls and the insertion of new front panels at the outer perimeter openings. In this context of clean volumes and open perspectives, the lighting set-up had to support the architecture, while guaranteeing maximum exhibition flexibility.
The Choice of the LINE48 LEDCO System: Contrast and Modularity
To meet the needs of modern art gallery lighting, the choice fell on our exclusive system with 48V magnetic rails.
– Contrast Design: Black Magnetic Rails (in 1 and 2 metre modules) were chosen, installed in mixed configuration with ceiling and suspension. This colour choice is not accidental: the black and decisive lines of the tracks create a clear and elegant graphic contrast with the ceilings and walls, transforming the technical system into an element of interior design capable of dialogue with the space.
– Total Flexibility: An archive and exhibition space requires continuous rearrangements. The low voltage magnetic technology (48V) allows you to move, add or remove the lighting fixtures with a simple gesture, without the intervention of a technician, ensuring a light scenography that is always perfect for each new exhibition. The system is safely and discreetly powered by 48V 100W and 200W magnetic power supplies.
Light at the Service of Art: Technical Specifications
When it comes to lighting, paintings and works of art, the quality of the luminous flux is the most critical parameter. For the Zappettini Foundation, we have provided the 48V MAGNETIC SPOT 10W, configured to enhance the pigments and textures of the canvases:
– Very High Colour Rendering (CRI95): A Colour Rendering Index of 95 guarantees that the colours of the works of art are perceived by the human eye in an extremely faithful way, returning the exact nuances desired by the artist.
– Colour Temperature 3000K: The choice of a warm white light creates a welcoming and museum atmosphere, inviting the visitor to dwell on the details without tiring the view.
– Targeted Light Beam (36°): Optics with 36° aperture allow you to concentrate light directly on the work, creating an accent effect that makes the canvas emerge from the context, minimising glare and light dispersions on adjacent walls.
– ON/OFF management: To keep the system intuitive and immediate in its daily management, we opted for a practical ON/OFF configuration, leaving the physical modularity of the spots the task of modelling the light in space.
The Result: An Illumination of Excellence
The project of the Zappettini Foundation, thanks to the excellent work of MZ Studio, represents a perfect example of LED museum lighting in which technical versatility marries aesthetic rigour. The LINE48 MAGNETIC system from LEDCO is confirmed as the ideal solution for architects and lighting designers who are looking for a reliable, elegant tool designed to highlight art in all its forms.
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