QU | Isola della Scala | Urban regeneration and new light in the historic center
A project by KM429 Architects Simona Avigni_Alessio Bernardelli and bc studio Architects Ilaria Bizzo_Stefano Cornacchini, created in collaboration with QU.
The urban regeneration project for the historic center of Isola della Scala has taken a decisive step forward with the completion of the new public lighting system in Piazza Martiri della Libertà and the main access roads. The project, designed by KM429 Architettura and bc studio, was carried out in collaboration with QU, a company specializing in the design of advanced lighting solutions.
The design concept is based on the desire to regenerate a central location in the town, restoring its recognizability and spatial quality. For the design team, renovating a strategic urban hub like Piazza Martiri della Libertà represents a project capable of generating a “cascade effect” throughout the entire historic center: a boost to pedestrianization, increased social interaction, and the enhancement of cultural and commercial activities.
The project also aimed to reconnect the historical and visual relationships between the abbey’s buildings and the War Memorial, restoring continuity and clarity to the entire urban space and encouraging smoother pedestrian flows.
Custom design: when lighting becomes a design materiale
To meet the client’s aesthetic and functional needs, QU developed custom poles based on the Cyrano model.
Cyrano is a wall light, designed by Parisotto + Formenton Architetti and part of the Arcipelago Capsule Collection, with distinctive and evocative shapes. It features a prominent shade attached to a plaque that can display pictograms, numbers, or short text for signage, such as inside a superyacht or hotel. The product was then developed in indoor and outdoor versions for low-level walkway signage (Cyrano Paletto) and a larger wall-mounted version (Cyrano Big). This is in complete continuity with Qu’s vision of offering a comprehensive range of products within the same series that can accompany designers between indoor and outdoor applications while maintaining design continuity.
Made of aluminum, it is a light source with an IP rating suitable for both outdoor and indoor installations. Available in the standard Black finish, like all QU products, it can be customized upon request with bespoke finishes to meet the needs of bespoke projects.
In the case of Isola della Scala, the Cyrano Big version was customized to adapt to the specific needs of the architectural firm in a pole version. The lighting fixtures, with heights varying between 4 and 6 meters above ground, are equipped with certified optics made specifically in compliance with Veneto regional regulations. Furthermore, each lighting element was subjected to a special Corten coating process, designed to ensure uniformity with the surrounding street furniture.
“In our project,” the designers explain, “lighting is a true design element, like stone or furniture. The poles fit into the urban space with discretion and elegance, like people in dialogue with each other.” The choice to collaborate with QU stems from the company’s ability to offer flexible, adaptable, and experimentation-friendly products. This custom approach allowed them to transform catalogue elements into solutions perfectly consistent with the architectural concept. The designers also underline the “tenacity of the QU team in wanting to achieve the final result without ever giving up constructive dialogue with all the figures involved”. A synergy that made possible the full integration of aesthetics, technology, and functionality.
ph Credits: Pietro Savorelli e Luca D’Ambrosio
Lighting Project: Studio Associato El-Tec
General Contractor: Goitese Costruzioni srl
Electrical installer: Tre Erre Impianti srl