In a bid to diminish the lighting energy consumption of architectural landmarks across the island, as well as enhance their aesthetics, the Mosta Basilica is the next cultural heritage site in line to be granted an investment of €850,000 euro by the National Development and Social Fund (NSDF).
This project was announced on Monday by the Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship and Communities Alex Muscat.
This new scenographic lighting initiative penned to kick-off in a few months, is a collaborative venture between the government and the Mosta church clergy, and is third in line to two other similar lighting projects in Malta − the Valletta Carmelite Dome and the Mdina St. Paul’s co- cathedral – that are being carried out by renowned architect Franck Franjou.
Franjou has previously carried out the lighting design for the Parliament House, Valletta City Gate as well as Triton Fountain.
The shift between the Church’s current high-consumption flood lighting to modern LED’s will see the reduction of light pollution as well as heat damage to the buildings stone material.
Besides the LEDs themselves wasting less energy, this new lighting system deployed will enable the intensity as well as the colour of the lights to be adjusted in tandem to the setting of the sun to achieve a novel scenographic atmosphere that is at the same time more sustainable.
The investment will add value to the Basilica, which received around 890,000 tourists in 2019 alone.
Mosta Archpriest Dun Bastjan Caruana expressed his satisfaction at the project, saying it will increase the sense of pride not just in religious worshippers but also in those who appreciate Malta’s architectural value.