Lighting of the François Baud footbridge, a new glow for the iconic landmark of the town of Morzine
Located in the French Alps near the Swiss border, Morzine-Avoriaz is a ski resort nestled in the heart of the forest and surrounded by mountains. This family-oriented village embarked on an ambitious artistic initiative: the lighting of its emblematic structure, the François Baud footbridge, under the direction of lighting designer Guillaume Jéol.
- Location: François Baud Footbridge, Morzine-Avoriaz, Haute-Savoie, France
- Completion date: 2024
- Luminaires: LUMINY 4, ARCHES, SCHOOL-LIGHT
- Client: SYANE
- Project Management: Atelier Jéol / BE Profils Études
- Works Execution: SPIE CityNetworks (Thonon-les-Bains branch) / Rope-access works: Accro BTP
- Contact: Michel Coche, LEC
- Photography: © Lucas Stanus
Located in the French Alps near the Swiss border, Morzine-Avoriaz is a ski resort nestled in the heart of the forest and surrounded by mountains. This family-oriented village embarked on an ambitious artistic initiative: the lighting of its emblematic structure, the François Baud footbridge, under the direction of lighting designer Guillaume Jéol.
A true architectural feat, this unique structure serves as both a functional and urban link, connecting the two valleys that frame the town. In partnership with LEC of the RAGNI GROUP, the project successfully combined technical, aesthetic, and environmental requirements with a clear objective: to identify solutions that met expectations while optimising costs and strictly adhering to the original specifications.
The municipality of Morzine-Avoriaz sought to rethink the lighting of the footbridge for two main reasons: to strengthen its visibility as a local landmark and to provide an event-ready option for occasions such as Rock The Pistes or the renowned Harley-Davidson gathering. At the same time, the existing functional lighting needed to be optimised to better meet residents’ needs while complying with the 2018 regulation on light pollution.
The implementation of new lighting therefore had to take into account, on the one hand, robustness in the face of natural elements, and on the other, strict control of light pollution and the project’s environmental impact. A bold decision was thus made: to forgo lighting a key emblematic section of the footbridge, as it was impossible to prevent most of the luminous flux from being lost towards the sky. This option was clearly unreasonable—especially since the functional lighting integrated into the handrail already highlighted the wooden deck of the footbridge, naturally creating a subtle outline.
The city also chose a point-by-point control system along the central span, enabling the creation of a rainbow effect using the RGB option, while the two lateral sections—also RGB—change colour synchronously. To bring this vision to life, several LEC projector models were installed: 29 SCHOOL-LIGHT units, 114 ARCHES units, and 16 LUMINY 4 projectors equipped with specific beam shapers.
These luminaires combine performance, aesthetics, and durability, while offering a solution suited to the project’s two distinct timeframes: timed functional lighting to limit environmental impact, and fully customisable ambient lighting for events.
The lighting scenarios were designed by LEC’s technical team, represented by Julie Barrier, Head of the Engineering Department, and Julien Trenel, Technical Director, in collaboration with Aymeric Jacquier from the municipality of Morzine-Avoriaz, as well as with the elected officials, during three programming sessions.
Today, the François Baud footbridge stands more than ever as a true link between residents and visitors alike. Its carefully designed lighting has become a source of pride for the people of Morzine and enhances the resort’s nocturnal landscape. Through this project, Morzine-Avoriaz continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and its deep attachment to local heritage.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the stakeholders who contributed to the enhancement of this footbridge: SYANE (client), SPIE CityNetworks (Thonon-les-Bains branch), Accro-BTP, and BE PROFILS ÉTUDES for their involvement, as well as Guillaume Jéol for the lighting design. Finally, special thanks go to Métallerie des Alouettes for the bespoke metalwork carried out for the integration of the luminous bars, and to the elected officials of the municipality of Morzine-Avoriaz for their warm welcome—especially Aymeric Jacquier for his commitment and availability.
