Lighting solutions
en
In 2022, Polaris Lighting designed and implemented the façade lighting for the Tombul Mosque in Shumen. The building’s official name is the Sherif Halil Pasha Mosque, but the distinctive shape of its central dome led to it becoming widely known as the Tombul Mosque. Built in 1744, it is Bulgaria’s largest Muslim place of worship dating from the Ottoman period and one of the most recognisable historic landmarks in north-eastern Bulgaria.
The mosque’s architecture combines a central prayer hall with a large dome, a tall minaret, an inner courtyard, arcades and a sequence of lower buildings. This created a specific challenge for the lighting design: each element had to remain clearly legible after dark without turning the building into an excessively bright or unnatural object. The solution was developed through consultation between the client and the specialists at Polaris Lighting.
The lighting emphasises the different levels of the complex while preserving the visual prominence of the dome and minaret. The lower stone façades are defined by a consistent rhythm of light and shadow that reveals the masonry, openings and architectural details. The central volume receives a stronger visual emphasis and remains clearly recognisable from different locations around the city.
Polaris Lighting used three types of professional exterior luminaires for the project. The compact MACRO fixture enables precise illumination of smaller architectural and landscape details. Its adjustable beam allows the light to be focused where it is required without unnecessary spill into the surrounding areas.
Wall Washer luminaires distribute light evenly across the extended façade surfaces. This approach reveals the natural relief of the stone without creating harsh or randomly placed bright areas. The powerful Beam floodlight is used for the larger architectural volumes and for zones requiring a controlled light output from a greater distance.
All luminaires included in the project are designed for exterior use and meet the requirements for resistance to changing weather conditions. This is essential for a historic site where the lighting must operate reliably throughout the seasons. Suitable housings, optical systems and installation methods reduce the need for intervention and preserve the consistent appearance of the lighting composition.
At the Tombul Mosque, light does not alter the architecture but helps it remain visible and understandable after sunset. The Polaris Lighting project brings attention to the dome, minaret, arcades and stone façades while respecting the dignity of an active place of worship. The result is a balanced night-time identity that emphasises the historical value of the complex and strengthens its presence as a recognisable landmark within the urban environment of Shumen.
