A Civic Light for Mairie 13

In the search for an elegant and distinctive nocturnal visual identity for Paris, this project proposes to begin with the illumination of the “houses of citizens”, the district city halls. These everyday civic places become the first anchors of a shared nocturnal narrative, strengthening the bond between institutions and residents, and recalling what unites us: citizenship.
Conceived as a direct application of a renewed nighttime aesthetic for Paris, this initiative relies on an ecological, high-definition lighting approach, respectful of the environment and free of light pollution. Light takes the form of a lavis, subtle and controlled, revealing the architectural essence of each façade at nightfall. Restrained, delicate and refined, it expresses the civic role of these buildings with clarity and sensitivity.
The lighting accompanies the architecture without altering it, allowing lines, reliefs and proportions to emerge in a calm and legible reading. It offers a nocturnal presence that is both perceptible and enduring, attentive to use and urban context.
Within a broader vision, this luminous principle may also evolve during festive or symbolic moments. A discreet yet expressive animation could then inhabit the façade, while the immediate surroundings of the city hall might be adorned with light suited to each occasion. Light becomes a flexible language, capable of accompanying civic life in both its celebrations and its everyday rhythms.
This proposal outlines a renewed way of inhabiting the Parisian night, where places of local governance regain a presence that is gentle, meaningful and shared.