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Corporate
L&L Luce&Light
Caves Champagne Joseph Perrier
Caves Champagne Joseph Perrier
Châlons-en-Champagne, near Reims, in the heart of the historic
province of Champagne, is home to the House of Joseph Perrier, a
company founded in 1825 and currently run by the sixth generation
of the founding family. Joseph Perrier stands for a tradition of
Champagne excellence handed down from father to son for almost
two centuries. The House is headquartered in an old coaching inn,
and the land surrounding it holds a network of subterranean tunnels
excavated in the Gallo-Roman era.
In 2019, the company commissioned an ambitious project. The
historic site was completely renovated, and new areas open to the
public were added. At the same time, the lighting was redesigned.
The cellars, the new garden and the outdoor spaces all benefited
from a metamorphosis of their lighting to offer visitors an immersive
experience.
The Parisian lighting design studio Lumesens, in the person of
Emeric Thiénot, was responsible for the project, taking into account
the constraints imposed by the company’s heritage, the technical,
architectural and landscaping requirements, and the economic
and environmental conditions. The Lumesens studio found the
ideal partner in L&L Luce&Light, not only because of the lighting
fixtures’ intrinsic characteristics but also because of the availability
of bespoke solutions.
During their visit, guests encounter light projections reminiscent
of water reflections. These are created by Ginko projectors using
sharp optics combined with bespoke optical accessories made
specifically by Lumesens. „With these two effects, we tried to give
substance to the light. Unlike a lighting manufacturer, who has to
control their beams of light, we have deconstructed the light to give
it both materiality and fragility.“ Emeric Thiénot, Lumesens
The reliability of the AISI 316L stainless steel used for the lighting
fixtures is fundamental because they are installed in a challenging
environment because of not only the humidity in the air but also the
limestone of the tunnel walls. Outside, other Ginko fixtures pick out
the majestic wrought iron sign that spans the gate columns at the
entrance to the complex. The garden paths are lit by customized
versions of Pasito 1.1, which are installed on bollards; the same step
lights have been used in the upper and lower parts of the covered
walkways, where they illuminate both the ground and the arched
ceilings.
The project was awarded the Prix de l’ACEtylène 2020 by the
Association des Concepteurs Lumière et Éclairagistes in the
category for interior lighting design. On the building’s facade, Lyss
1.0 outdoor projectors have been strategically positioned on the
outermost edges of the windowsills, where they create a luminous
frame around the windows and around the entire facade, including
the cornice.
Location
Châlons-en-Champagne, France
Application
Paths and steps, Facades
Project
Thiénot Architecture
Light planning
Lumesens
Ginko 2.0
power: 7W
optics: sharp 21°
colour temp.: 2700K
finish: stainless steel
with customized filter
in the snoot
Bright 2.4 custom
power: 5W
optics: 13°x52°
colour temp.: 2200K
