NEWS
The UNESCO World Heritage city of Le Havre (France) joins LUCI as it develops its lighting master plan
Philippe Chapuis, Lighting Project Manager, explains the lighting strategy and future projects of Le Havre
“The port city of Le Havre, classified UNESCO World Heritage, wishes to pursue enhancing its heritage, to reveal its urban landscapes through architecture and to liven up its public spaces at night. Therefore in the frame of our recent work on Le Havre lighting master plan, we have specifically focused on creating greater harmony in new public spaces, while respecting the city’s identity. We are attentive to making these public spaces inviting and welcoming for inhabitants: places where people can gather and contemplate the impressive effects of light.
This program to design new ambiances and atmospheres, called “Escale de Nuit”, is a long term project which will last until 2017 (for the 500th anniversary of the creation of Le Havre port). In coherence with existing installations and major urban regeneration projects of the city, this program is currently in progress. However a few existing or future projects can be mentioned:
• The lighting of the new public spaces in the south part of the city (Dock Vauban, Jardin Fluvial)
• A temporary lighting called “Patrimoine en lumière” during summer 2008 (lighting design: Skertzo)
• The tramway (lighting design: Roger Narboni and Hervé Audibert)
• The stadium (lighting design: Ph. A. Concepteurs Lumière et Design)
• And the permanent lighting design of approximately 15 heritage sites
By joining LUCI, Le Havre wants to give visibility to its lighting strategy among a network of innovating cities of light and to exchange on both technical and “sensible” issues. The city expects enriching exchanges with professionals from various horizons in the field of lighting and of different cultures but also to learn from the wide range of experiences that can be found within the LUCI network.”