Urban Lighting

Arcueil-Cachan aqueduct, France

Underneath the arches

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This is the scene that delights residents and visitors to Arcueil-Cachan, famous for its double arch aqueduct. The stone bridge has lately acquired an added magic thanks to an imaginative lighting scheme using Thorn products.
 Part of the bridge goes back to Roman times, for the aqueduct was originally erected over the Bievre River valley for the conveyance of water to nearby Paris. It spans 1 km on 77 arches and stands 38m tall.

Main lighting is by 142 orange-coloured fluorescent tubes in special Corniche luminaires, each 2m long. Their function is to emphasise the majesty and grandeur of the arches from within. Lighting is orientated away from the sides to enhance modeling and avoid obtrusive light. It is close offset mounted at 2.4m and channeled within the arches in a proactive effort to preserve habitats for animals and birds.

More dramatic effects are achieved by mounting 156 MiniPinspot LED specials, with 3x1.2W cyan LEDs and OMP glass optics, on the parapet. The spotlights are DMX controlled so they can inject waves of blue light along the top of the structure, thus symbolising the flow of water across the aqueduct.

The use of efficient light sources with long life (20,000 hours for the tubes and 50, 000 hours for the LEDs) minimises running and maintenance costs.

All lights are turned off at midnight to further reduce electricity consumption and to respect the well-being of residents.

Scheme Associates
Project management: Concepto Agency and Egis Development
Lighting Design: Roger Narboni
Electrical Contractor: CEGELEC
Photos: Xavier Boymond