International. The Eiffel Tower celebrated its 130th anniversary and marked the occasion with a spectacular light show with 60 Elation Proteus Hybrid luminaires used in an extraordinary double-propeller design.
Weatherproof Proteus moving heads played a pivotal role in the light and sound show and were supplied for the event by technical solutions provider Magnum, which has participated in more than 95% of Eiffel Tower events since 2004.
Magnum's role in the 130th anniversary project was to interact between the artistic ideas of renowned set designer Bruno Seillier and the technical director of the Eiffel Tower. Designed by Bruno Seillier and programmed by Clément Lelevé de Magnum, the custom light show portrayed a number of moments in history including the design and construction of Gustave Eiffel's tower, special transmissions that France experienced due to the tower's height, the two world wars and other notable events in history, including the recent fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral.
"For this great and historic event, Bruno Seillier wanted to present the tower as the DNA of Paris, so the 60 Proteus Hybrids were consequently placed in the upper section of the tower," said Magnum boss Jérôme Chupin. A double-propeller design of Proteus accessories, mounted on the second platform, lent itself to beautiful design symmetry, sending powerful rays of light thousands of feet into the Parisian night sky and enabling unprecedented visual effects. Proteus accessories worked with other beam effects (in domes) located in the platform positions.
Technicians spent three nights at the Eiffel Tower installing the MULTIFUNCTIONAL LIGHTS with IP65 arc source, an experience that other technicians around the world have become familiar with the award-winning Proteus that has been used in several light shows, including the New Year's Eve light shows at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Space Needle in Seattle.
"To this day, the Proteus Hybrid is the only accessory that brings together exceptional lighting qualities with the possibility of running them in all environments," Jérôme said of the powerful hybrid moving head. "Elation's previous experience at the Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai was instrumental in the decision to reassure the Eiffel Tower's Technical Services Department and give the go-ahead to hang the Proteus Hybrid accessories."
The 12-minute Anniversary light show debuted on May 15 following a free concert by Jeanne Added and played again on the evenings of May 16 and 17, three times each night.
A symbol of Paris and a treasure of the world, the Eiffel Tower is a rare attraction in itself, but it is especially magnificent when dressed in a custom light show, as Jérôme exclaimed: "The impact of the show was extraordinary. For three days, three shows a day, it brought together a sea of people from Place de Trocadéro to the Pont d'Iéna and it was just amazing to see."
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