Futuroscope, Poitiers

All projectsFuturoscope, Poitiers

The future is now

France

Futuroscope is a multimedia-themed amusement park located just north of Poitiers, France. Known for being the only place in the country with all types of IMAX screens, Futuroscope opens the doors to an exciting array of experiences, boasting 40 attractions and a breathtaking nightly show.

Adding to its unique lineup is Aquascope, a new indoor water park spanning 6,000 square meters, where families can enjoy thrilling adventures together. This vibrant space features eight extraordinary slides set amidst a colorful, fantastical environment with stunning video mapping effects. Here, visitors can float along in four-person tubes or race down solo for an extra dose of adrenaline.

Charged by the Société du Parc du Futuroscope with the lighting of this unique amusement park, Belgian lighting designer Bruno Demeester brought his concept to life with the help of our LED colour changers, among other equipment, installed by the Ineo – Equans company. To achieve the vibrant lighting effects, 25 Capital 200 MC units in RGBW with narrow or spot optics were installed, casting dynamic colors across the EFTE-made façade of the central hub and highlighting the sleek metal cladding on the water park’s outer walls. In consideration of the park's unique environment, each Capital 200 MC was equipped with an anti-glare snoot to minimize undesired effects and treated with anti-saline coating for enhanced durability in this challenging setting.

Year

2024

Location

Poitiers, France

Lighting design

A CONTRE JOUR (Bruno Demeester)

Product specification and installation

Ineo - Equans

Architect

Art’ur architectes

Electrical design

Artelia

Pictures

Grégory Lhéritier - Bruno Demeester

Additionally, 35 units of Moon Recessed Adjustable RGBW with medium optics were integrated into the lighting design of the children’s Distraction area, providing a balanced and immersive visual experience. These luminaires contribute to the overall aesthetic, creating a whimsical underwater world. They illuminate rocks in hollows and lower areas, adding depth and contrast, while purple and lavender tones inspired by underwater flora and fauna warm the atmosphere.

Bruno Demeester remarks: "The lighting design conceived for this aquatic space within Futuroscope creates the illusion of diving into a fantastic underwater environment, while ensuring safe circulation and clear visibility in access areas to the attractions.” He also adds: "We analyzed the characteristics of underwater lighting effects in various marine environments to define the principles, light directions, types, and color palettes to be used for simulating the ambiance of an aquatic world. Ceiling-mounted spotlights with narrow beams create grazing accents on the rocks, shifting through shades from blue to cyan in a slow animation that suggests the gentle motion of the sea. This dynamic lighting and colour palette are also applied to the ETFE façade surrounding the central area of the attraction, creating an enveloping, ethereal effect around the stairs and platforms leading to the various waterslide entrances.”

Fun fact: one of the most striking photos of the installation was captured by photographer Grégory Lhéritier on the night of October 10, 2024, against an extraordinarily red sky illuminated by a rare aurora borealis. This stunning natural event, reaching its peak this October after more than a decade, added an unexpected layer of wonder to the park's vibrant display.

Products installed
3x Capital 200 MC RGBW narrow optics, snoot, anti-saline treatment
22x Capital 200 MC RGBW spot optics, snoot, anti-saline treatment
35x Moon Recessed Adjustable RGBW Medium optics
1x Infrared Remote control

Credits
Location: Parc du Futuroscope, France Client: Société du Parc du Futuroscope
Lighting designer: A CONTRE JOUR (Bruno Demeester)
Electrical contractor / installation: Ineo - Equans
Architect: Art’ur architectes
Scenographers and interior architects: Credo, Concepts & Innovations, Nathalie Nivet
Electrical Building Services: Artelia
Photo of the façade with aurora borealis: Grégory Lhéritier - Instagram : lgphotographe
Photography: Bruno Demeester