Aura of Roots

Aura des Racines is a unique lighting project conceived to transform the Sumel 6 commercial complex into a place infused with life, calm and resonance. Developed on a former industrial site, this ensemble of ten buildings hosts 1,500 shops and functions as a fully fledged commercial district. In a context marked by density and visual chaos, the lighting transformation aimed to turn Sumel 6 into a welcoming oasis, offering visitors a harmonious, regenerative and memorable experience.

The lighting concept, titled Aura des Racines, draws its inspiration from the century-old trees bordering the site, carriers of memory, vitality and rooted presence. Symbolically, we imagined an aura emanating from these roots, rising and enveloping the complex in the form of ethereal rings of light, floating above the internal streets and extending along the crowns of the buildings. Around the trees, this aura becomes dynamic, shifting between festive colors during weekends and celebrations, and more restrained tones on weekdays. Within the inner streets, the light settles into a static, warm-white glow, gently guiding movement and reinforcing visual comfort. Along the street-facing building crowns, the aura takes on a vibrant green hue, forming a luminous signature in resonance with the identity of HN Safal. This softly flowing light recalls the Northern Lights, with their calm, mysterious and enveloping nuances.

To enrich this luminous landscape, Atelier dada designed two exclusive luminaires. Aura1, integrated directly into the trees, echoes the wheels of bicycles and local street carts, anchoring the project firmly in its genius loci. Aura2, a suspended luminaire arranged in catenary lines, materializes the sacred halo often depicted in Hindu and Christian iconography above or behind holy figures, introducing a deeply spiritual and poetic dimension.

As night falls, LEDs trace gentle halos in subtle tones during weekdays, then come alive with vibrant movement during weekends and festive moments. At the beginning of each hour, the luminous rings briefly intensify, offering a suspended moment of magic and giving the complex a captivating and memorable nocturnal identity. This concept is part of a broader, underlying lighting vision centered on visual time, where architecture, light and urban experience reconnect with those who inhabit and traverse the place.