Expercité lights up the colonnade of the Palais-Bourbon in Paris

The Palais-Bourbon colonnade was added to the original building by architect Poyet, 80 years after its construction, and was inaugurated by Napoleon I in 1810. To bring the building into the 21st century, our experts were asked to carry out electrical work for the lighting scheme designed by the NoctaBene agency. 
 

“We installed a total of around fifty lights: LEDs embedded in the floor to light up the colonnade, and a series of spotlights to illuminate the sculpted figures on the pediment, as well as the statues facing the Seine along the Quai d'Orsay," explained Paul Marques, in charge of the works. 
 

Our experts worked in the attic and above the kitchens of this historic monument to enable the cables to pass through. Every day, warm white lighting highlights the bas-reliefs on the pediment. The spotlights are fitted with lenses engraved with drawings, creating a shadow play to illuminate the statues of Athena and Themis. The colonnade can also be lit up in blue, white and red for national holidays and National Assembly night sittings, and decked out in the colours of other flags during State visits, or even to celebrate Pink October. 
 

"All the contractors worked together to complete the project on time, while respecting the solemnity of the building and the MPs’ work sessions. We carried out night-time trials to test the lighting in real-life conditions, and everything went according to plan," continued Paul Marques. 

The National Assembly's restored colonnade was inaugurated by president Yaël Braun-Pivet on 23 May, in the presence of the quaestors and MPs.