La Défense: an art collection in light
- Commissioning: 2017
- Location: La Défense district, Paris
- Client: Defacto
- Lighting Designers: 8’18’’
- Architects: Frenak + Jullien
- Installer: Eiffage Énergie
- Photo credit: 11h45 for Defacto
- Objective: to reveal an open-air museum
Since the 1960s, the La Défense district has gradually built up an exceptional open-air contemporary art collection, comprising 69 major works—both monumental and discreet.
Defacto, in charge of managing the district, launched the Paris La Défense Art Collection programme with a dual ambition:
- To preserve and restore the existing artworks,
- To bring this unique collection back to life by enhancing its visibility and appeal.
A comprehensive, sensitive, and innovative approach
As the winner of the competition launched by Defacto, the Frenak + Jullien Architectes team conceived an enhancement strategy built around three key components:
- The restoration of the artworks,
- The creation of visitor pathways,
- The nighttime lighting of the most emblematic works, entrusted to lighting designers 8’18’’.
A restrained and demanding lighting design
Among the selected artworks, 15 benefited from lighting solutions by LEC—11 fully illuminated using our systems, and 4 complemented by existing lighting.
To precisely meet the designers’ vision, only three projector references were deployed:
Despite this deliberately limited selection, nearly 200 projectors were installed, each configured with a bespoke mix of optics defined after three weeks of on-site nighttime testing. Each sculpture thus received a unique lighting treatment, finely tuned to respect its volumes, textures, and artistic intent.
All LEC spots were supplied with integrated dimmers, enabling precise, artwork-by-artwork control.
An artistic project
This project perfectly embodies LEC’s philosophy: placing light at the service of creation with precision, discretion, and durability. It also highlights the importance of collaboration between designers, architects, installers, and manufacturers in enhancing a living heritage.
We are proud to have contributed to this ambitious cultural initiative, which allows thousands of passers-by and visitors to (re)discover La Défense in a new light.
11 works in this collection are fully illuminated by LEC, with 4 others partially lit:
- After Olympia — Anthony Caro (1991)
- Le Pouce — César (1994)
- Les Doubles Lignes Indéterminées — Bernar Venet (1988)
- Vive le Vent — Michel Deverne (1985)
- L’Araignée Rouge — Alexander Calder (1976)
- Les Trois Arbres — Guy-Rachel Grataloup (1988)
- Les Personnages Fantastiques — Joan Miró (1978)
- Utsurohi — Aiko Miyawaki (1989)
- Le Moretti — Raymond Moretti (1992)
- La Cheminée Végétalisée — Édouard François (2004)
- La Défonce — François Morellet (1990)
- L’Oiseau Mécanique — Philolaos (1972)
- La Terre — Louis Debré (1978)
- Le Casque BC1 — Ben Jakober (1988)
- Les Cheminées — Philolaos (1973)
After Olympia — Anthony Caro (1991)
Le Pouce — César (1994)
Les Doubles Lignes Indéterminées — Bernar Venet (1988)
Vive le Vent — Michel Deverne (1985)
L’Araignée Rouge — Alexander Calder (1976)
Les Trois Arbres — Guy-Rachel Grataloup (1988)
Les Personnages Fantastiques — Joan Miró (1978)
Utsurohi — Aiko Miyawaki (1989)
Le Moretti — Raymond Moretti (1992)