he new lighting design for the City Hall of Brussels enhances the building’s heritage while improving comfort and energy efficiency. This six-century-old UNESCO-listed structure preserves its historical features with discreet, energy-saving LED chandeliers inspired by the geometry of old gas lighting. Additional lighting elements are seamlessly integrated into the architecture, remaining invisible to visitors. This carefully designed lighting system beautifully highlights the decor, paintings, and woodwork, showcasing the building’s splendor in a new light.

After ten years of thoughtful consideration regarding the relighting to honor an exceptional heritage, a new lighting design has been implemented in the prestigious rooms of Brussels City Hall. With a timeless, pure and simple design, the new installation meets the standards of a museum, blending harmoniously with the architecture to enhance its beauty. It features a completely new, custom-designed suspension inspired by the original gas lighting system.

Standing on the Grand-Place for nearly six centuries, Brussels City Hall is no longer something to be admired, it’s something to be rediscovered. The project primarily focused on the ceremonial areas, which are richly decorated versatile lighting that ensures both functionality and conservation. Paintings, being fragile and sensitive to light, need careful illumination to avoid damage. In addition to hosting important ceremonies, these rooms attract visitors from around the world. Just like in a museum, there are strict specifications in terms of lighting intensity and quality. The range of resources available is vast, enabling the elaboration of multiple tailored solutions.

The starting point for the project was the building’s history and its original lighting fixtures, known as Sunburners. These gas lights, imported from England, were installed in 1873. Equipped with chimneys to vent burnt gases, they were inefficient and soon supplemented with electric chandeliers. By 1895, the Sunburners were replaced entirely by sixteen bronze crowns fitted with incandescent lamps, which remained in use until 1970, when ring-shaped chandeliers were installed.

This historical lineage inspired the new suspended luminaires, designed specifically for this project. These new bespoke LED chandeliers, also ring-shaped, feature triple light emission that can be adjusted independently, enabling diverse lighting scenarios to accommodate the varied functions of these rooms. The luminaires combine direct, indirect and diffused lighting and account for 95% of the lighting in the wedding hall and 75% in the gothic hall. The result for both halls with these new pendant lights has been complimented as giving them a relevant solution and a more monumental character. Predefined scenarios—minimal, intimate and ceremonial—can be activated using an intuitive interface to suit different events.

This fine craftsmanship in the lighting design echoes that used throughout the building. This masterly LED installation works wonders to bring to life rooms such as those in Brussels Town Hall. This project can be seen as an example of what heritage lighting can be in the future: perfectly in tune with and integrated into the site, giving us a true vision of its beauty, while preserving its historical essence.


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