The Hellenic Parliament, housed in the Old Royal Palace in Athens’ Syntagma Square, is one of the most iconic symbols of modern Greece. The Royal Palace was built in 1843 to a design by Bavarian architect Friedrich von Gärtner, and its imposing neoclassical architecture dominates the square together with the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.

In an innovative project by DANILOF light + perception studio, the lighting for both the Parliament House and the square has recently been revised to complement the architectural heritage and create a dynamic atmosphere that respects the historical and environmental context.

The project, which won the Heritage Lighting Design Award at the LIT Lighting Design Awards, embraces an innovative approach that combines aesthetics, functionality and respect for the environment to create a harmonious dialogue between light and architecture.

The main fixtures used include Lyss 2.0 Tunable White projectors (from 2700K to 4000K), strategically positioned on the windows to enhance the building’s original marble cornices. These fixtures have customized RAL finishes and are installed on bespoke bases to avoid damaging the antique marble and allow the products’ orientation to be easily adjusted according to the windows’ irregular planes. The base enables the fixtures to be moved left or right and up or down to ensure uniform illumination for each window.

Akro projectors light the wall in the centre, with the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, while Neva linear profiles light the masonry at the end. With a colour temperature of 3500K, this lighting accentuates the texture of the limestone walls, creating a three-dimensional effect that gives depth and harmony to the palace.

All the lighting fixtures offer unique colour flexibility, enabling the colour temperature to be changed to create fluid transitions and a variety of scenic effects. From sundown, the light evolves gently through programmed lighting scenes with different intensities and temperatures, moving from cool white to warm white. After midnight, the intelligent dimming system reduces lighting levels to preserve the night sky and respect the environment.

In addition, the fixtures are designed with precision optics and fitted with anti-reflection components to minimize upward light spill and ensure precise, responsible lighting. Visual harmony by day has been carefully considered, too: the fixtures’ customized finishes make them almost invisible against the surfaces they are mounted on, preserving the building’s aesthetic coherence.

This project is a shining example of how light can translate into a language that enhances architecture and respects the landscape, telling the story of a place and enriching its identity.