Aureola light installation transforms chapel into a space of reflection
AUREOLA by Yutong Xia is a temporary architectural installation that transforms the Madonna delle Cataste chapel into a luminous space for reflection and collective experience.
Drawing inspiration from the traditional iconography of the halo surrounding depictions of the Virgin Mary, the installation reinterprets this motif as a contemporary, floating ring of light.
Rather than altering or physically touching the historical building, the intervention hovers above it, suspended by tensioned cables anchored at a distance. This deliberate separation underlines a core principle of the design: reverence through restraint.
The installation enhances the chapel’s presence without overshadowing it. By employing a cable-stayed system and using lightweight materials such as high-tensile steel and translucent membranes, the structure maintains a near-invisible presence during the day.
As natural light passes through it, the ring casts gentle shadows on the stone below, creating a subtle dialogue with the architecture.
The chapel remains open to religious and community use, while AUREOLA expands its potential to host quiet gatherings and exhibitions in the surrounding open space.
In the evening, the integrated LED lighting transforms the ring into a soft, ambient glow that adjusts according to time and occasion.
The lighting design is programmable, allowing for dynamic interaction with seasonal changes and community events.
This responsiveness positions the chapel not as a static monument but as a living place, continuously shaped by the people who gather around it and the rhythms of the natural environment.
The construction reflects a non-invasive ethos, with all components demountable and no permanent impact left on the site. This temporary quality speaks to a larger vision: sacredness is not defined by permanence or material mass, but by atmosphere, memory, and shared ritual.
AUREOLA’s presence evokes a sense of quiet elevation, encouraging pause and attentiveness rather than spectacle. The design process included the use of AI-generated imagery, particularly through the Midjourney platform.
These visual studies helped simulate various emotional and environmental conditions, offering insights into light behavior, spatial proportion, and collective experience.
This method enabled a more intuitive and adaptable approach, aligning architectural intent with sensory impact. AUREOLA proposes a renewed model for sacred architecture, one that is light, temporary, and emotionally attuned.
It serves as a space where contemporary design can honor tradition without replication, using light as a medium to foster connection and continuity.
Through this installation, the act of gathering regains spiritual significance in a space that invites both stillness and transformation.
All images courtesy of Yutong Xia
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