Wittur Tools

Lift Modernization at the Palais Garnier, Paris, France

Description

Wittur has supplied a modernization package for two passenger elevators in The Palais Garnier, also known as Opéra Garnier, a 2,200-seat opera house in Paris, France, designed by Charles Garnier in the Neo-Baroque style, and regarded as one of the architectural masterpieces of its time.
The first elevator system was modernized in April 2010 and the second in June-July the same year. They now serve more than 800,000 visitors and spectators that come every year to Palais Garnier.

Both systems have a rated load of 2000 kg, a speed of 1.6 meters per second and extend over 8 stops.
The utmost care has been taken to supply a modern, comfortable and safe system in line with updated safety regulations, but also in a style fitting with the unique interior design of the Opera Garnier. Thus, the two cars have been specially designed for this project with an extensive use of rounded corners, both on the inside and outside structure.
The two cars feature a half-height window running around the whole car perimeter for the comfort of passengers. To further enhance the space perception, the ceiling has a mirror finish and lighting is supplied through LED lamps.
All mechanical parts are hidden to give a clean overall structure: car frames are hosted in a closed compartment of the cabin and are virtually invisible.
The use of the Wittur Hydra Plus UD car door with reduced height has allowed a very inconspicuous placing of the door's moving parts, which are totally covered by the car structure.
The Wittur Hydra landing doors have been fitted with glass-framed panels divided into two halves; a special silkscreen printing pattern in the lower part imitates the shape of the nearby iron balustrade. This results in an outstanding optical continuity of the elevator which is unobtrusively blended with the Palais Garnier interior.