The city of Valenciennes wished to set up, through a public-private partnership, a scheme to renovate and modernize its 90 city illuminations, in a conscious motto of energy savings and harmonization of its existing nighttime image.
Two luminous strata were imagined: The Landscape City and the Atmospheric City.
Two luminous paths, with the majestic ‘Place d’Armes’ at their crux, allow giving existing illuminations meaning and consistency again, as well as giving locals the opportunity to rediscover their architectural heritage at nightfall. Finally, nocturnal interludes, unexpected light installations, are sprinkled through the city and allow Valenciennes inhabitants to reclaim these local, social places.
The Phoenix Theater and Rhônelle Park illuminations were designed in this framework.
The creation and realization of this Lighting Masterplan gave way to a rewarding pedagogical partnership with the Higher Education School of Art and Design of the city (ESAD).