YOU ARE THE LIGHT

You Are The Light is a gentle care center project located in Paris’s 7th district, conceived as a spatial experience rooted in perception, time and the body. From the outset, light was envisioned by Atelier dada as the conceptual matrix of the project. It was neither an addition nor a decorative layer, but a structuring principle, inseparable from architecture, volumes and use.

The name You Are The Light, as well as the associated lighting concept, were conceived and introduced by Atelier dada during the early design phase and were warmly received by the client. Conceived as both a spatial and experiential statement, the concept placed light at the heart of care, perception and inner balance. As part of this holistic vision, Atelier dada also introduced the idea of re-bringing the vegetal element into the space, both in abstract and figurative forms, restoring a symbolic and sensory continuity between the human body, light and the living world within an initially constrained and highly mineral environment.

The project unfolds across two levels with contrasting luminous qualities. The ground floor, generously infused with natural daylight through street-facing windows and multiple skylights, remains connected to the rhythm of the city and the passing of time. The lower level, devoid of natural light, invites a more inward and quieter experience. This duality formed the basis of a circadian architectural approach, where light accompanies different states of being, temporalities and care practices.

Natural light establishes a living relationship with the exterior, the sky and the flow of the day. It shapes first perceptions, supports grounding and contributes to balance. Artificial light was conceived as a complementary presence, extending these qualities with restraint and precision when daylight fades, while preserving the continuity of atmospheres.

At the heart of the proposal, You Are The Light unfolded as an intimate affirmation. Each care room was designed to host a specific neon element, conceived by Atelier dada as a soft luminous script inspired by the Parisian archetype of neon signage, consciously transposed indoors with controlled brilliance. Through words, symbolic imagery, and subtle vegetal evocations, these luminous presences expressed a shared intention: to remind each person that light does not emanate solely from space, but also from within.

These elements belonged to an architecture of perception, where light becomes a point of reference, a companion, a breath. Carefully calibrated to the nature of the care, emotional intensity, and moments of focus or release, light supported a deeply attentive and embodied care experience.

During the execution phase, the founding lighting concept and its guiding principles were not carried through. As a result, Atelier dada chose not to sign the realization. The project therefore remains unbuilt in its intended form.

You Are The Light stands today as a quiet manifesto of Atelier dada’s approach: an architecture of light centered on human experience, where care begins with the quality of space, attention and perception.

The concepts, visuals and devices presented in this project are original creations of Atelier dada.
They may not be reproduced, adapted, or transposed without the explicit consent of the author.