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Light makes Cosenza’s new bridge a true landmark

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  • Lamp efficacy

    Lamp efficacy

    Ensuring the lamp efficiently converts electricity into light (lm/W).

  • Ballast classification

    Ballast classification

    Controlling the electricity supply to the lamp (Energy Efficiency Index).

  • Luminaire distribution

    Luminaire distribution

    Controlling light emission using optics which bend and shape the light to the correct location.

  • System efficacy

    System efficacy

    Combining optical and thermal control within the luminaire (luminaire lm/W).

  • Presence/absence detection

    Presence/absence detection

    Presence: Lights automatically turn on/off with movement. Absence: Lights automatically turn off and must be manually switched on.

  • Daylight detection

    Daylight detection

    Artificial lighting which responds to the natural light conditions.

  • Constant illuminance

    Constant illuminance

    A function designed to produce correct light levels for the duration of the maintenance period.

  • Task-scene setting

    Task-scene setting

    Allowing the user to set scenes and adapt the lighting to different tasks.

  • Timed off

    Timed off

    Automatic cut-off can be installed to turn all lights off during unoccupied hours.

  • Task lighting

    Task lighting

    Lighting task areas with the correct amount of light.

  • Zoning of lighting

    Zoning of lighting

    Lighting is zoned according to area use.

  • Maintenance schedule

    Maintenance schedule

    Maintenance must be performed in response to product age, performance and environment.

  • Waste light

    Waste light

    Eliminating waste light which does not hit the intended target.

  • Reflectance

    Reflectance

    Taking advantage of light which is reflected from the surface within the space.

  • Visible smart metering

    Visible smart metering

    Results of actions can be quickly seen as increased or decreased energy use to encourage responsible energy consumption.

Lighting from Thorn and Zumtobel has helped create a unique and iconic structure for this Italian city

Challenge

In January 2018 a stunning new road and pedestrian bridge opened in the southern Italian city of Cosenza. Designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the San Francesco di Paola bridge is one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the region in recent years. Calatrava’s vision was to create a “harp-shaped” bridge. Suspended from a 104-metre-high “antenna”, rising at an angle of 52 degrees, the cables that support the bridge are reminiscent of the strings of a harp.

The bridge’s lighting had two objectives: to enhance the view of the great “antenna” from a distance, and from a functional point of view, to provide clear and comfortable illumination for vehicles and pedestrians.

Solution

The lighting system consists of forty large 88W Contrast LED spotlights from Thorn, mounted on the bridge’s 40 tie rods. Each spotlight has a narrow 8° beam angle and a colour temperature of 4000K, chosen to complement the structure’s white body.

Equipped with refractors and anti-glare visors, the Contrast LED spots provide a uniform glow along the antenna, ensuring maximum visual comfort for pedestrians on the bridge’s walkway, which runs in the middle, between the lanes of traffic. All the spotlights are RGB and can be controlled using a DMX controller, to create dynamic light shows for special events. They can even be synchronised with music to make the whole bridge mimic a giant harp.

The design also includes side lighting along both the traffic and pedestrian lanes, with Tubilux LED fittings from Zumtobel installed into the lower part of the railings to create a “carpet of light”. The cables for the Tubilux fittings are simple and extremely slim, with a mechanical anchoring system for easy insertion into the structure of the bridge, saving time and money during installation.

Result

The new bridge shows how light can transform structures into true landmarks. The bridge’s majestic antenna is now an iconic feature for the city of Cosenza.

By using LED lighting, the bridge uses 60% less energy that it would have if an alternative metal halide and fluorescent design had been used, with an installed load of just 37kW.