pampulha church

Originally designed by Oscar Niemeyer in 1943 and restored decades later, the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi at Pampulha stands as one of the most challenging and celebrated projects in LD Studio’s history. Our task was to illuminate a protected architectural landmark without competing with Niemeyer’s vision—to reveal its iconic curved concrete shells, Portinari’s mural, and the bell tower with exceptional precision while complying with the strict preservation requirements established by heritage authorities.

To meet these challenges, LD Studio developed custom lighting solutions specifically designed for the building’s complex, non-orthogonal surfaces, employing advanced lighting calculation software that was rarely used in Brazil at the time. The project received international acclaim, earning both the IALD Award of Merit in the Monuments and Public Spaces category and the Paul Waterbury Award of Excellence from the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). Among 160 entries from 16 countries, it was the only Brazilian project to receive this distinction.