Arcimboldi Theatre

The new Teatro degli Arcimboldi, in the former industrial area of ​​La Bicocca, a suburb of Milan, was inaugurated at the beginning of 2002: until 2004 it hosted the activities of the Teatro alla Scala, allowing for the long-awaited restoration and regulatory works, and it represented, in the three years of substitution, an interesting pilot experience for the decentralization of cultural activities. The structure of the building is divided into three clearly recognizable volumes: the common areas ( entrance, ticket office and foyer ), the hall, the scenic tower. The main façade consists of the square, a shelter that signals the entrance to the public, and a large curved and inclined glass window. Inside, the large glass wall rises to full height: steel pillars punctuate the hall which houses the ticket office, the bookshop, the cloakroom and the stairwells. The balconies of the stalls and galleries overlook this area. The lighting is provided by fixtures incorporated or integrated into the architectural elements equipped with low voltage lamps with various powers and beam emissions. Specially designed luminaires consisting of a crown with 12 dichroic lamps surround each steel column of the entrance hall and the first level of the balconies: they provide general lighting for the rooms and create a brilliant series of reflections in the large glass wall . For night lighting, "Radius" type luminaires were installed on the central beam of the entrance shelter to give a strong and uniform light to the surface of the roof, thus creating a strong and inviting sign.
Glass panels, used both to regulate sound reflection on the stalls and to diffuse light, provide some of the light in the concert hall. The wooden walls of the balconies host recessed luminaires with compact fluorescent lamps, while hanging in the center of the room a large semicircular chandelier specially designed with five sectors of laminated glass sheets, supported by a metal structure, with 118 halogen lamps provides lighting general and zenith of the audience. ( FLARE, nr. 33, September 2003 )