Lighting rethink at iconic Opéra Bastille in Paris helps to alleviate overheating problems in rehearsal rooms. LED fittings from GDS ArcSystem hit the right note. Opéra Bastille in Paris is one of the two main venues of the Opera National du Paris, France’s principal opera company (the other venue is the prestigious Opéra Garnier). Designed by Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott and located at the place de la Bastille, the building houses a 2700-seat theatre as well as a smaller concert hall and studio. GDS was invited to provide a solution to a problem that was a plague upon the musicians of the Opera – that of rehearsing in an excessively hot environment. The Liebermann Room at Opéra Bastille provides an ideal rehearsal setting for musicians and choirs alike but in summer the perennial problem of overheating had reached a point where action had to be taken.
A combination of air-conditioning inefficiencies and 49 duo PAR 500W lamps conspired to leave the musicians in great discomfort. When evaluating possible replacement fittings, it was important to consider the colour temperature of the light, as the musician’s score is produced in two different colours – white and a yellow tone – which need to be clearly legible under the new light. A minimum light level of 800 lux light was required.
With no budget for additional control cabling, a suitable wireless solution was also required. At the request of Didier Paillet, head of lighting services, GDS’ French distributor Alterlite was invited to supply GDS ArcSystem to solve what had become, over a number of years, an intolerable problem. GDS supplied 49 ArcSystem Pro Fixture 8 cell 3000K 37 degree black yoke LED fittings with a single TX1 master transmitter to replace the existing lamps. From a situation where the existing lights were using 49 kW of energy (much of which was generating heat), the installation of ArcSystem reduced this by more than 80% to a mere 7 kW whilst providing light levels of 800 – 1000 lux and the perfect colour temperature for the musicians to read their scores. The simultaneous vast improvement in light quality from the LED fittings was coupled with further reductions in energy consumption related to the previously overworked air-conditioning system.
“I was very impressed with the ArcSystem 8cell, the colour temperature, stable wireless control and dimming ability in such a compact unit,” said Didier Paillet. “It was the solution to all our problems and those that we didn’t know we had.” Photograph courtesy of Soundlightup Magazine www.gds.uk.com
