ST. VALENTINE'S SANCTUARY
INTERIOR LIGHTING DESIGN
2024 BIERUŃ

The interior lighting design for the St. Valentine's Sanctuary in Bieruń and the adjacent cemetery is based on the motif of a candle and the idea of rebirth from ashes. Candlelight refers to prayer and remembrance of the deceased, creating an atmosphere of focus and contemplation. The church features light fixtures that resemble candles in form and colour temperature. Their purpose is not only to illuminate the space, but also to create a calm, solemn atmosphere.

Inside the Sanctuary, under each station of the Way of the Cross, lighting fixtures reminiscent of candles were designed specifically for this building. They emit warm light, illuminating only the lower part of the image, leaving parts of them in semi-darkness, which creates an atmosphere of concentration and contemplation. All this refers to the atmosphere of the 17th-century interior, which was one of the goals of the project. The candle motif is repeated in the chandeliers of the nave and presbytery, where the warm colour of the light harmonises with the Baroque golden ornaments. Meanwhile, cool light radiates from above the pulpit, illuminating the paintings on the ceilings and emphasising the heavenly nature of their themes. Its presence, by way of contrast, accentuates the warm light of the candles.

Light scenes transform the interior, which is used for contemplation, listening to concerts, or celebrating liturgies or services. Scenes with an almost completely darkened interior are imbued with special symbolism, when the only source of light is the intense beams of light coming from the external illumination of the temple. They emphasise the beauty of the stained glass windows and paint surprising, multicoloured images on the ceiling.

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