Castle, Ferrara
Castle, Ferrara (1)

1. playroom: installations of angled mirrors attract onlookers, invite them to look up, bring the frescoed ceiling closer, and dilate the space in a constant interplay of reality and virtuality

Castle, Ferrara (2)

2. cafeteria: "microcestello" lights




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50 rooms of the castle can now be visited following a tour leading from the Lions´ Tower through the kitchens, Gothic chambers and frescoed Renaissance chambers into the gardens, Alfonso 1st´s private chambers and the nineteenth−century halls. The court of the house of Este could once boast a fine collection of valuable objects and works that have all been lost, so the museum now exhibits itself and its own historical background. The decision to use the same "Cestello" floor and "Microcestello" wall, suspension and floor appliances everywhere creates a feeling of greater unity, even managing to incorporate the lighting into the spaces, and making everything much more easily recognisable. The reception facilities, ticket booth, book shop etc. on the ground floor and the bar−cafeteria on the first floor feature wall appliances "microcestello") with adjustable ceiling lights to smoothly and evenly light up all the premises. Explanatory displays holding documents, coins, medals and books are all equipped with their own lighting system made of fluorescent tubes inserted in channels and protected behind prismatic glass. Specially designed "Cestello" floor lights of different heights that have been painted red are carefully arranged to hold information and directional signs, the fire extinguisher, and emergency light. They are also used for the main lighting in the halls and on the ceilings and the spotlighting for the works on display, as well as being strategically placed along the entire tour route.
Ferrara, Italy
(In collaboration w/ Arch. G. Aulenti)
Piero Castiglioni