Opéra de la Bastille
1. The Grande Salle: the original huge whole ceiling "lamp" (constructed using
exclusively fluorescent lamps), createsthe illusion of natural daylight of "open
skies". A system, called "organ pipes", with gradual variations, from zero
to one hundred percent of light intensity give the possibility to create waves of
"successive" light. This was made possible with a remote control electronic
system.
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The
works started on 1984, first with the demolition of the Gare de la Bastille,
and then with the construction of the new building. The Opéra,
notwithstanding its great urbanistic and architectural impact on a neighbourhood
where the buildings are quite low, 3 or 4 floors, does not give the impression
of beign "monumental" and is able to integrate itself with the
sourrounding area. In the conception of the Grande Salle the lighting
system covers 900 m2, a large luminous glass courtain, that is extraordinary
in the true sense of the word, a huge, completely illuminated "ceiling"
of unusual appearence. Each light fitting was made according to a particular
design which took into account the ease maintenance and dismantling of
each part, moreover they can be considered as being completely new, as
they had to form part of a coordinated design concept and fit perfectly,
both visually and from a functional point of view, into the overall plan
- which required precise design and structural characterystics.
The only locations where halogen lamps are used are found in the public
areas. (FLARE 3, September 1990, pp. 42-53)
Paris, France
(In collaboration w/ Arch. C. Ott)
