Esplanade Simone Veil

Liège is a city in full transformation. To establish the city as an ‘Euroregional pole’ of economic activity, the local authorities launched a regeneration programme for the Guillemins district. The construction of the futuristic Guillemins Train Station in 2009 was only one element of this project. The city wanted to breathe new life into the area through 4 main axes:

• improving access to public spaces;
• providing new housing;
• increasing mobility, comfort and road safety;
• developing new businesses.  

As part of the plan, the local authorities completely transformed the area around the train station. Roads were reorganised to create an esplanade that will enable people to go from the station to the far bank of the Meuse River, offering more space for pedestrians and cyclists as well as more green areas.
 

Energy-efficient lighting for a safe and welcoming space

Lighting was always going to be an important factor in the transformation of this area. As a shared space, it was essential that the lighting ensured the safety of all users, including cars, buses, cyclists and pedestrians. The architectural firm Detheir wanted an energy-efficient solution that would also contribute to regenerating the nocturnal landscape of this up-and-coming area. They opted for the highly aesthetic PIANO and NEOS LED luminaires.
 

Luminaires to complement the station's architecture

The PIANO was chosen to light the roads and streets leading to the train station. Its pure design and high-quality finish complement the train station perfectly while providing a bright white light to safely guide all users. The PIANO luminaires and poles are painted black to contrast with the white stone of the station, creating a visual contrast. They are mounted quite low (4.5m) on the poles to ensure that the architectural beauty of the train station dominates the landscape.

Two luminaires are installed on each pole to light both the roads and the footpaths simultaneously, thus reducing the amount of furniture on the pavements to allow for easier access and mobility.
 

Free spaces for easy accessibility

To leave as much free space as possible on the esplanade, five NEOS LED luminaires are installed on 10-metre-high poles, with the luminaires facing in different directions to create a welcoming and safe environment. By reducing the number of columns, the visual impact of the impressive train station is even more striking. The limited number of poles also provides more space for organising events and enables people to move around more freely.

All of the luminaires are fitted with white LEDs for perfect visibility. The city opted for neutral white LEDs to avoid a big contrast with the lighting throughout the rest of the city.  

NOCTIS floodlights uplight the trees on the esplanade, enhancing the warm nocturnal atmosphere. They were carefully installed behind the tree trunks to highlight the foliage without creating any glare for people passing by.  

The local authorities and residents are delighted with the new lighting scheme which has brought this district back to life by creating a safe and convivial nocturnal landscape where people want to spend time while attracting new businesses to the area and boosting a sense of pride in the city.