Architectural lighting for buildings & monuments

Bringing out the best in architecture, from historic heritage to the magic of live spectacle.

Architectural lighting for historic monuments, abbeys, châteaux, heritage façades and exceptional head offices. An approach that respects the fabric of the building, low-energy LED lighting, and coordination with the Bâtiments de France heritage authorities whenever required.

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Our approach

Light in the service of the project, not the other way round.

Lighting a monument or an institutional building has nothing to do with lighting a car park. It means revealing what makes it singular, or using it to tell the story of a project: working on textures, on shapes, on colour.

Our craft consists in choosing what to show and what to leave in shadow. The further you go into detail, the more you move towards video mapping techniques — hence the importance of pinning down the ambition of the project and its practical conditions right from the start.

This approach means our installations are generally understated and effective. Technology in the service of the project, not the other way round.

Three firm commitments

Our method of working

Strict respect for the building fabric

No invasive fixings, no core drilling into the stone. Our installations use free-standing supports or reversible brackets, removable without leaving a trace. When a site is listed, we work hand in hand with the Monuments Nationaux to validate every aspect of the job.

Energy restraint

Our lighting stock is ~100% low-energy LED. On a monument, our installations typically consume at least 10 to 50 times less than equivalent architectural lighting using halogen projectors. Timed scenarios are possible (switch-off after a given hour at night). We have developed our own measuring devices, which display the installation's consumption in real time.

Preliminary study

Before any deployment, we carry out a survey on photographs, on plans and on site: analysis of the building's position within its surroundings, stray light sources (street lamps, shop windows), and visibility constraints from public roads. Our proposal is built on a complete analysis of everything we consider essential to delivering the project properly.

Case studies

A few examples of architectural lighting in different settings

Heritage · In partnership with Europe Évènements

The Abbaye de l'Épau as a night-time trail

A Christmas light trail for which we supplied a 45 m long tunnel built with our LED tubes, alongside Europe Évènements.

CORPORATE · EVONIK · COMMEMORATION

Carrying a message of tolerance

A precise response to the request from Evonik, who wished to display the LGBT colours following the attacks in Germany, to carry a message of tolerance and social diversity — values Evonik strongly champions.

Our process

From the first site visit to switch-on night.

Site visit & survey

Daytime and night-time reconnaissance on site. Architectural analysis, surrounding light environment, access and protection constraints.

Photometric study

Choice of light sources, positions and colour temperatures. Validation with the heritage authorities (ABF/CMN) if the site is listed. Detailed, costed quotation.

Installation

Rigging by our technical team. On-site calibration. Testing under real conditions, adjustment and sign-off by the client.

Operation

Commissioning, day-to-day operation and monitoring to make sure everything keeps running.

Frequently asked questions

What building owners ask us most.

My façade is a listed historic monument. Can you still work on it?

Yes. We have already worked with the Monuments Nationaux on events held at protected sites (electrical supply, structures, lighting, lorry access, and so on). Generally speaking, the question is not whether the project can go ahead, but to what extent we need to adapt our processes and the project itself so that it can be delivered within the rules laid down by the CMN.

Do you install permanent lighting, or only for events?

Although we can handle permanent integration — with LED tubes for nightclubs, for instance — we specialise in events, and that is where our teams add the most value.

How long does it usually take to produce a quotation?

That mainly depends on the number of constraints at the venue and on the complexity of the project. For near-standard jobs, we can respond within a few hours during quieter periods. For projects that depend on approval from the relevant authorities, the timescale can be longer and is outside our control.

Do you supply the electricity, or do we need to provide a dedicated power supply?

We will always specify our exact power requirements, together with the positions we would like them in, on a clear plan agreed between us. In some cases, we can provide solutions that are energy-independent from the mains network.

Do you work with local authorities, or with private clients too?

Both. We work regularly with local authorities (town councils, departments, joint authorities) on public heritage, and with private owners of listed monuments or exceptional head offices. Our approach is the same in either case.

Do you have a monument or a building to reveal?

Tell us about the site, its status (listed / not listed), your objective (permanent / event-based) and the date you have in mind. We come back to you within two working days with an initial response, with no obligation.

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Chronix — 09 81 64 99 08 — contact@chronix.fr