Did you know that Old Montreal will have an urban beach in May 2012?

What an amazing contrast it will be to have an urban beach in the Old Port. It’s what I call crazy fun. Soft sand, sun loungers and colorful beach umbrellas, everything needed to escape for a few minutes or a couple of hours and get a good dose of vitamin D. But don’t sweat it. Since swimming will be prohibited because the current of the St. Lawrence River is too strong, fun and refreshing sprinklers, water games and original showers will allow everyone to cool off and still have a good time. This urban beach has the potential to become an amazing place to hang out, with the river and the city as a backdrop.

This project is inspired by Paris Plage, a concept that is on everybody’s lips right now in the French capital. The right bank of the Seine is transformed each summer into a long beach and people can rest under potted palm trees, listening to music while making sandcastles. The project Bo01 of Malmö in Sweden was also an inspiration for the Montreal project.

The architect Claude Cormier has created this urban beach project in Montreal. He is also the brain behind the beautiful Sugar Beach in Toronto.

An environmental approach will be essential for this contemporary concept in Old Montreal. Of course, the lighting will play an important role in creating the atmosphere during the daytime and also at night. This public space will imperatively need eco-friendly lighting in harmony with the environment. In a project such as this urban beach, there is certainly a place for lighting solutions such as those offered by Philips Lumec.

Know that Philips Lumec’s products are often used in projects near the water, since we specialize in customized lighting solutions. Hence, we can easily adapt our products to every customer’s needs and projects. Moreover, Philips Lumec manufactured the poles and brackets for luminaires in partnership with a European company for the Waters’ Edge Promenade of the famous Toronto Waterfront.

http://www.west8.nl/news/first_custom_light_poles_placed_in_toronto/

In a location such as an urban beach, Philips Lumec’s Bollards of the Candela Series are often used for waterfront surroundings. Their nautical style, from European inspiration, offers a wide range of optical systems.

http://www.lumec.com/pdf/series/Bollard_series.pdf

So stock up on your sunscreen and make sure to go and enjoy the urban beach atmosphere in Old Montreal in a year.