development of the “terrasses des ponchettes”, on the French Riviera

The “terrasses des ponchettes” is a historic area in the city of Nice. It used to be a famous strolling place in the 19th century but has fallen into disuse since then and the city council wants this huge roof terrace to be used by the public again. This exceptional site, located at the end of the “promenade des anglais” and offering a stunning view upon Roba Capeu and the sea, called for a simple project, balancing respect for the site’s history and the need to restore the use potential of the terrace. Our lighting project fulfils both these requirements through a very discreet functional lighting that sheds light on the terrace’s new activities and the illumination of the interior street of the site that highlights its history.
In the interior street, lights cast by profile spots restore the site to its original fisher town’s charm. A color wash soothes the atmosphere. Façades are merely highlighted by a line of light, cast from pedestrian poles. The upper part, conceived as both a lounge and a solarium, has a discreet lighting that blends in perfectly with the architecture. A set of vertical planes fashions the view and guide visitors in their strolling. As a result, the view towards the sea is clear, which allows visitors to enjoy its soft darkness.