Architectural-technical competition for the design of the interior lighting of St. Barbara's Cathedral

Announcement of the PRELIMINARY ROUND of the competition for new interior lighting of the St. Barbara's Church
The Roman Catholic parish – archdeaconry of Kutná Hora announced on November 12, 2025, as part of the Light 2025 conference, the preliminary round of the architectural-technical competition for the design of new interior lighting for the St. Barbara's Church. The St. Barbara's Church, a national cultural monument and part of the UNESCO World Heritage, is undergoing preparation for extensive renovation of engineering networks. A new lighting concept, which aims to sensitively connect the spiritual, architectural, and technical dimensions of the space with respect to Gothic architecture, will be part of this renovation. The goal of the competition is to find a solution that can enhance the beauty and significance of this extraordinary place with light.
About the competition
The competition has a closed character; however, it is preceded by an open preliminary round, which architects, designers, and lighting designers with experience in heritage or otherwise sensitive architectural objects can apply for. From the registered teams, the jury will select a maximum of five participants who will advance to the closed round of the competition and prepare a complete competition design.
Schedule:
Announcement of the preliminary round: November 12, 2025
Submission deadline for applications: December 6, 2025
Selecting participants for the closed round: December 18, 2025
Start of the closed competition: January 5, 2026
Personal presentations of designs and jury meetings: March 26, 2026

Registration for the preliminary round
Participants can register via an online form on the website:
www.chramsvatebarbory.cz/osvetleni
More information and the opportunity to obtain additional documents are also available at the same link.
Let there be light
The project is not only a technical task but also a challenge to breathe new life into a space that has inspired with its beauty and spirit for centuries. For this reason, the project bears the working title Let there be light.
The organizers welcome participation from all who wish to contribute to the creation of a lighting solution corresponding to the significance of this unique church.