Signature lighting for “Green Venice”

Coulon, in the heart of the wet marshes of the Marais Poitevin Regional Natural Park, is known as the “Green Venice” for its wetlands. Like Chef-Boutonne, Coulon, a 'Petite Cité de Caractère', decided to enhance its tourist appeal by upgrading its public lighting with a lighting scheme designed by Concepto and Roger Narboni.

The local authorities wanted a bespoke lighting solution for Louis Tardy Quay, the starting point for the popular canal cruises that attract visitors every year.

The lighting designer, Soizick Bihen, guided by Roger Narboni's lighting signature, designed a bespoke mask that, as she explains “reflects the natural environment as much as possible."
 

A bespoke mask to reflect Coulon's identity

The ALUCA lighting solution, designed by Lionel Bessières and developed by Schréder, was chosen. Soizick Bihen redesigned its mask, inspired by “the undulations of the river Sèvres Niortaise” that runs through the village. She explains that "the aim was to create different nocturnal atmospheres in the village and to give rhythm to the night".

When designing the mask, she carefully considered where the luminaires would be installed on the lower facades of the buildings to avoid disturbing the residents. 
Soizick Bihen “worked the undulations of the mask more densely on the façade side”. The four sides of the luminaire are not identical, a detail that allows for a play of contrasts. 

Furthermore, “the overhang of the lantern at the bottom provides visual comfort and the customisation of the lantern gives Coulon a new image”, says the lighting designer. The result is unique.
 

Public and ambiance lighting

A total of 18 bespoke ALUCA lanterns were installed along Louis Tardy Quay. They are fitted with LEDs with 2 different colour temperatures: 

• 3,000K
• 2,200K. 

The warm white provides the public lighting while the very warm white creates a cosier ambiance, delivering a “soft lighting, lighting where and when its needed”.

Both colour temperatures are switched on from dusk until 10pm. After 10pm, the very warm white LEDs switch off. The lighting switches off completely at midnight when the area is no longer used. 

The ALUCA luminaires have reduced power consumption from 1,260 watts to 690 watts, resulting in energy savings of 46%.