L'Observatoire International is a lighting design firm established by Hervé Descottes in 1993 in New York City. The firm works within a range of different spatial expressions including architecture, landscape, urban, and fine art projects.
L'Observatoire has become known for its innovative ways of applying light within the built environment, and does so by merging the latest technologies with an aesthetic paradigm in order to most advantageously engage and reveal the program, space, and form.[1] The firm has collaborated with architects and designers including Steven Holl, Frank Gehry, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Jean Nouvel, Richard Meier, Peter Marino.[2]
The High Line in NYC, with lighting design by L'Observatoire International The Art Gallery of Ontario, with lighting design by L'Observatoire International
Le Louvre, Agence Search, Paris, France (Under Construction)
IALD Award[15] of Special Citation for Sensitive Application of Light in a Repurposed Urban Setting for The High Line (New York, NY) (2012)
IES Illuminations award of Merit[16] Awarded to the following projects: The Cosmopolitan (Las Vegas, NV), Hermes Rive Gauche (Paris, France), Cite du Surf et de L'Ocean (Biarritz, France), and The High Line (New York, NY) (2012)
Lumen Award of Merit[19] for Lincoln Center Redevelopment: Alice Tully Hall and the Juilliard School(New York, NY) and Private Residence (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) (2010)
IES Illuminations award of Merit[21] Awarded to the following projects: Newton Creek Waste Water Pollution Treatment Plant (New York, NY), The High Line (New York, NY), and Lincoln Center Redevelopment: Alice Tully Hall and the Juilliard School (New York, NY)(2010)
Best Redesign awarded by The Municipal Art Society of New York[18] Awarded to the following projects: Lincoln Center Redevelopment: Alice Tully Hall (New York, NY) and The High Line (New York, NY)(2010)
Commendable Achievement Exterior Lighting from Architectural Lighting Magazine's Sixth Annual Light and Architecture Design Awards for Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (Brooklyn, NY)(2009
ASLA Design Excellence Award[22] for Buffalo Bayou: Sabine to Bagby Promenade (Houston, TX)(2009)
Chevalier des Arts et Lettres[23]Knight of Arts and Letters Award administered by the Minister of Culture and the Government of France (2008)
Award of Merit from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for Theory World Headquarters and Retail Flagship (New York, NY)(2008)
Yellow Pencil Award from D&AD (British Design and Art Direction) for Environmental Design/Installation for the Make It Right Foundation's Pink Project with Graft as architect (New Orleans, LA)(2008)
Award for Excellence in Design from the Art Commission of New York City for the exterior lighting of the P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in Long Island City (New York, NY)[2] (2003)
Descottes, Hervé; Cecilia E. Ramos (2011). Architectural Lighting, Designing with Light and Space. New York: Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN978-1-56898-938-9.[25]
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