Bridging sustainable lighting and value preservation of cultural buildings

The Culture Lights project was developed in response to the growing need to align the renovation of Europe’s building stock with sustainability objectives, while simultaneously respecting and pres...

The Culture Lights primary objective was to shape and enhance the knowledge and skills of both blue-collar and white-collar construction professionals who are currently working - or preparing to work - on the renovation of cultural buildings, with a special focus on the design and installation of sustainable lighting systems that not only meet modern energy efficiency standards but also respect and preserve the cultural and historical value of heritage sites. In parallel, the project sought to foster stronger interaction between renovation professionals and cultural building users and employees in order to create structured opportunities for dialogue and co-creation. Finally, the project aimed to encourage sustainable behaviours and promote a culture of energy-conscious renovation practices by facilitating the exchange of perspectives on conservation strategies and energy efficiency through awareness-raising, participatory workshops, and collaborative training environments to influence professional practice and broader attitudes towards the environmental and cultural responsibilities of building renovation.

Culture Lights activities were designed and implemented following three-phase structure to ensure coherent progression and were supported by each partner. Culture Lights began with the setup of project management, internal coordination and quality assurance mechanisms, including regular partner meetings and the development of a monitoring and evaluation plan. Dissemination was carried out through a strategic plan, digital tools, printed materials, and multiplier and virtual events. The first phase O1 focused on the identification and mapping of training needs among target stakeholders through interaction and working workshops held in each project-country (IT, EL, PL). Building upon these insights, O2 consisted in the design of two modular VET curricula, tailored respectively to blue-collar and white-collar professionals, which were delivered both online via the virtual platform and in-person across project countries. The final phase (O3) addressed the policy dimension of sustainable renovation in cultural buildings by organizing national roundtables and elaborating a final set of policy recommendations to support the integration of sustainable strategies within heritage conservation and renovation policies.

Culture Lights project delivered four key results that addressed the project's objectives: R1. A transnational study mapping the training needs, skill gaps, and collaborative dynamics between construction professionals and cultural building users based on national-level workshops; R2. Two VET curricula on sustainable lighting - one for blue-collar and one for white-collar professionals - covering sustainable lighting in cultural buildings through blended learning, practical modules, and digital tools; R3. The design and implementation of real-life lighting projects by white-collar trainees in Italy, Greece, and Poland, applying acquired skills to the lighting design of selected cultural heritage sites. R4. The elaboration of national-level policy recommendations supporting the integration of sustainable lighting strategies in the renovation of cultural heritage buildings into national and European frameworks, aligned with the EU Green Deal and Renovation Wave.