Yelabuga, a city in the Republic of Tatarstan situated along the left bank of the Kama River, is one of the oldest cities in the Volga region, boasting a thousand-year history. The city is renowned for its historical center, where structures from the 18th and 19th centuries remain intact, including remarkable examples of wooden architecture. Yelabuga attracts tourists with its museums, architectural landmarks, and stunning landscapes. The city's ethnic diversity plays a crucial role in shaping its cultural life. The blending of traditions and cultures from the Tatars, Russians, Chuvash, Udmurts, Mari, and other peoples fosters a distinctive multicultural atmosphere.

The vision behind illuminating the historical area of the city was to cultivate a welcoming ambiance during the evening and nighttime, thereby enhancing the tourist experience. In the framework of the project, 69 objects overall were illuminated, among them 4 monuments and 65 buildings.

For the lighting design, INTILED utilized nearly the entire model range, incorporating a variety of lighting techniques. For instance, two cathedrals were illuminated with 360-degree lighting from the supports, while two others were lit along the façade and from the supports. The remaining buildings also received illumination from either the supports or the façade. The EDGE, SLIM, LINE, RAY, and KUB models were installed on the façades, whereas the IntiBEAM and IntiSTARK models were mounted on the supports and mini-posts.

The lighting design encompassed the façades of buildings along four streets of the main tourist route, as well as monuments, Orthodox cathedrals, and the Yelabuga Institute of Kazan Federal University. A local designer crafted sketches for the majority of the buildings, while INTILED produced visualizations for the lighting of the Pokrovsky and Spassky Cathedrals, as well as the Nikolskaya Church.

The unified lighting concept involved illuminating two- and three-story buildings by utilizing existing supports or introducing new mini-posts. For some façades, the addition of extra equipment for accentuation was permitted. In our work with monuments, we aimed to highlight the unique qualities of each individual through light; for instance, the monument to Marina Tsvetaeva exudes a contrasting and dramatic atmosphere, whereas the monument to the artist Shishkin presents a bright and majestic ambiance.

The Pokrovsky, Spassky, and Nikolskaya Cathedrals create a harmonious ensemble when viewed from the Yelabuga settlement. Different lighting techniques were employed for each: floodlighting and accent lighting for the Spassky Cathedral, which serves as the city's main cathedral and dominant feature; floodlighting that highlights the architectural simplicity of the Nikolskaya Church; and soft accent lighting for the Pokrovsky Cathedral, reflecting its closeness to residential areas.

Following installation, a collaborative team of dealers and INTILED staff aimed and adjusted the lighting equipment on nearly all the structures.