Introduction to the Building

The Abbaye de Saint-Maurice, located in St-Maurice, Switzerland, is an important religious and historical site in the country. Founded in 515 AD, the abbey has been continuously active for more than 1,500 years, making it one of the oldest monasteries in Europe with uninterrupted religious life. The basilica remains a place of worship, pilgrimage, and cultural heritage, welcoming visitors from around the world.

The project aimed to respectfully modernize the lighting infrastructure of the basilica while preserving the historical and spiritual character of this remarkable building.

Architecture

The basilica combines centuries of architectural evolution, reflecting the long history of the abbey. Its monumental nave, stone walls, and vaulted ceilings create a powerful spatial experience defined by rhythm, height, and symmetry. Natural light filters through stained-glass windows, highlighting the textures of the historic masonry and sacred artworks.

The architecture demands a delicate balance between visibility and reverence. Lighting must reveal the beauty of the structure while maintaining the calm and contemplative atmosphere expected in a sacred environment.

Lighting Design

The lighting concept was developed to enhance the architectural depth of the basilica while respecting its historical integrity. The design focuses on revealing the verticality of the space, highlighting the vaults, columns, and sacred elements with soft, carefully controlled illumination.

Special attention was given to the balance between functional lighting for liturgical celebrations and atmospheric lighting for visitors and cultural events. The lighting system allows different scenes that adapt the space to various uses throughout the day while preserving the warm and welcoming ambiance of the basilica.

The project was developed, with strong technical and creative support, in collaboration with Targetti. The lighting design was led by Roldy Cueto of RNHC Services, who brings over 20 years of experience working with Targetti solutions.

Lighting Controls

The project integrates 215 Casambi nodes, enabling flexible and precise control of the entire lighting system. The wireless infrastructure allows easy management of lighting scenes while minimizing physical intervention in the historic structure.

For the first time in such an application, the system is managed through an innovative 39-inch control screen developed with Adquio, providing an intuitive and powerful interface for operators. The installation also includes sensors and control switches that allow seamless interaction with the lighting system.

This combination of Casambi’s wireless technology and the Adquio interface ensures both simplicity and advanced control capabilities, making it possible to adapt the lighting to liturgical services, concerts, and everyday visits.

Sustainability

The system significantly improves energy efficiency by combining LED lighting with intelligent controls, sensors, and scene management. This allows the basilica to maintain optimal lighting levels only when needed, reducing energy consumption while preserving the building and its atmosphere.

“For me, Casambi is the only and the best solution to manage and develop my projects. In a historic building like the Abbaye de Saint-Maurice, flexibility and reliability are essential, and Casambi allows us to bring modern lighting control into a space with more than 1,500 years of history.”
– Roldy Cueto Cabrera, Lighting Designer, RNHC Services