Gare Montparnasse

The goal of the renovation of this incredible brutalist architectural space was to bring a sense of brightness, intensity of light, and clarity. The idea behind the artificial lighting during the day and night was to brighten the space but also to orient people between vertical connection and horizontal passages. When people are in train stations, they need to have a very clear understanding of direction, timing, and where they are. So, through a clear design of the spaces with lighting, L'Observatoire International increased the feeling of comfort in a complex space. Most of the spaces are brighter than the minimum requirement in order to emphasize the dramatic aspect of the Brutalist architecture through light and not darkness––which was the feeling of the space before. Also, we made sure that the Victor Vasarely artwork in Vasarely Hall was highlighted in order to emphasize the colorful viewing of it. L'Observatoire International also created a warm lounge where people can congregate.

L’Observatoire International's scope consisted of all public circulation of the train station, including entrances, lobbies, ticket offices, kiosks, and guidelines for tenant storefronts.