The Fernandina Wall is almost a postcard of Porto, appearing in several photographs that show the beauty of the surrounding scenery. And now it has been given a new light , thanks to a more intelligent and sustainable system.
The intervention, carried out by the municipal company Águas e Energia do Porto, took place as part of the City Lighting Requalification Program. As a result, 239 new LED luminaires and a remote control and dimming system were installed on the Fernandina Wall.
According to a press release from Porto City Council (CMP) sent to Porto Secreto, the project targeted the first section of the monument, located in the Batalha-Guindais area.
This is one of the few remnants of the city’s old defensive walls, which were completed during the reign of King Ferdinand in the 14th century.
Valuing “architectural features”
Quoted in the CMP press release, the architect responsible for the lighting project, Diana Del-Negro, said:
“The architectural features of the wall have been enhanced through the shallow illumination of the masonry,” with “its volumetry being highlighted through the shallow illumination of the faces purposely left in shadow, highlighting the abrupt edges of the turrets.”
Fernandina Wall: lighting modernization
According to CMP, the aim of this intervention is not only to modernize the monument’s lighting, but also to reinforce the electrical network and improve energy efficiency, mobility and safety in the surrounding areas.
In this context, it’s not surprising that the following installations have also been made along the Batalha-Guindais stretch:
- 32 LED luminaires on the footpath off the section
- 11 LED lights in Rua Arnaldo Gama
- 4600 m2 of electrical cables
The first phase of a larger project
Although the results are already there for all to see, the truth is that this is only the first phase of a larger project.
In this sense, interventions are planned on the staircases of Caminho Novo and Palácio de S. João Novo.