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INTERVIEW / FRANÇOIS MIGEON
Pic: Agence 8’18’’
Pic: Agence 8’18’’
Top For this Parisian data centre by architect Emmanuel Kuhn, Migeon used fluorescent tubes along the building’s translucent ‘macrolon’, fins. Set perpendicular to the façade, the fins react particularly well to the light and create a variety of lighting effects depending on where the viewer stands
projects. In France, we hope to achieve this also, so that we can compete effectively in that kind of marketplace, but you need an incredibly diverse team of people. At the moment our agency has 14 employees: lighting designers and Plasticien artists, managers, designers, engineers, architects and landscape architects. “With regard to the current issue con- cerning urban lighting, I think there’s one question we need to ask ourselves: What is the difference between living in the city compared to the country? To answer this, we need to look back to the 70s and 80s when dormitory towns were built on the outskirts of cities. They had no life because they were bereft of businesses, and had no activity. Different from the traditional city model, they didn’t light up the areas with the most activity. A dormitory town is a town where all you do is sleep, in darkness. It’s a place that doesn’t know how to exist at night!”
François Migeon also discusses the concept of urbanity: “It’s before a space can truly take part in an aesthetic or before the light has really made any impact. There are some cities that make me feel good because they have been lit intelligently, and certain spaces have been singled out. There are the places which my eyes pause on, monu- ments that absorb the light, perspectives that attract my gaze. This sense of urbanity
Left At the Hôtel Sabatier d’Espeyran in Montpellier, Migeon created a contemporary scheme to complement the period furniture within the space. A large suspended ceiling houses 16mm, 54W fluorescents and 50W halogens to provide a mix of diffuse and spot lighting for the seating area below and illuminates the cornicing around the room’s perimeter
ACE
TWO LIGHTING FUNCTIONS IN FRANCE So why is the ACE (Association des Concepteurs lumière et Eclairagistes) the Association of Lighting Designers using two lighting functions to describe the profession? François Migeon said: “It’s really the story of light. It’s an association that was developed from various genres, like cinema and theatre, that use mainly ‘Eclairagiste’. The lighting engineering people spoke also about ‘Eclai- ragiste’. The role of a lighting designer was developed mainly due to the public’s sensitivity to the landscape, ar- chitecture and the work of Plasticien artists. Their projects were supported by a lighting concept. So the profession came from various places. That’s what gives the French lighting designers so much depth.”
THE ACE’S MAIN MISSION “The idea is to work the perennial light of the city, the landscape and the architecture. Light has an incredibly important role for those who work with architecture and the landscape. The ACE makes builders and project man- agers aware that the management of light is a profession. As an intermediary, we put names of agencies who are able to respond to all issues related to lighting on our website.”
SOME OF ACE’S CURRENT PROGRAMMES “We’re involved with long-term projects to aid sustain- able development, including visiting cities and organis- ing training”, says Migeon. •Their next contributions to free expression, the next ‘Rendez-vous with ACE’ on sustainable development are scheduled for September 2010. This is an oppor- tunity to meet with the people who promote the idea of
HQE in cities (High levels of Environmental Quality): architects, town planners, landscape architects, ADEME, and the night sky and tourism people. ADEME is the Environmental Agency for the Management of Energy in France [l’Agence De L’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie en France]. •From Bordeaux to Nantes, the ACE has organised vis- its to cities and light courses. These visits allow lighting designers to get together and are very inspiring. For Fran- çois Migeon the advantage is that “they aren’t alone in their work and they take on board the views of others.” •In Lyon, with the help of the city and CDO, for five years the ACE has been organising ‘Lumiville’ prizes for lighting design. Lyon is a member of the LUCI Association, and of ‘Cluster Lumière’ which aims to unite and develop the lighting expertise in the Rhône-Alpes. •Along with the training, ACE are currently developing a first and a second level Masters in lighting design. “It’s incredible that we have actually gained a reputation in France and Worldwide even though lighting designers haven’t yet had any training in the country! The idea is to have training which deals with both the technical aspect and the project work like architects versus landscape ar- chitects” he explains. •In terms of publications, each term the association produces ‘A Letter from ACE’, in which they write about different themes related to lighting design. A document called ‘The Open Book’ also links the association with the notion of sustainable development. •The ACE hopes to talk to other assocations in view of partaking in joint ventures, not necessarily just in France.
www.ace-fr.org
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