Celesta, architectural video mapping
Video mapping and pyrotechnics: a single artistic language signed Celesta.
Video mapping turns the façade into a screen. Celesta brings the building to life, composes the images and, when the project requires it, synchronises the pyrotechnic display with the same score. A single team, a single vision, from location scouting to the final image.
- Bois-Colombes, Puteaux, Saint-Lô
- Images and shooting in a single direction
- A detailed quote within 48 hours
The technique
Video mapping, it is the façade that becomes the screen
A standard projection projects a rectangular image onto a wall. Video mapping does the opposite: it takes the building – its cornices, windows and recesses – as its starting point, then cuts the image to fit these shapes exactly. The façade ceases to be a surface; it becomes the subject.
From survey to image
Four steps you mustn’t skip
Accurate mapping is more about measurement than about the image itself. Celesta measures the façade, builds a scale model, makes notes on it, and then makes adjustments on site until the line falls in exactly the right place.
- The survey. Calibrated photographs and measurements of the building, taken from the exact location where the spotlights will be installed.
- The model. A three-dimensional reconstruction of the façade, on which the image is cut out cornice by cornice.
- Writing. The narrative, the music and the rhythms, conceived specifically for this building and no other.
- The set-up. Two nights on site to fine-tune the projection down to the millimetre, before the first performance.
Recent façades
The façades which Celesta has turned into a story
Town hall, a century-old town hall, an urban landmark: each structure imposes its own geometry, and thus its own architectural style.
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Le Havre is celebrating its tramway with a multimedia show
View the project: Le Havre is celebrating its tramway with a multimedia showA rebuilt city, a transport system that is reinventing itself Rebuilt after the war according to Auguste Perret’s plans, Le…
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Video mapping of Bois-Colombes’ 125th anniversary
View the project: Video mapping of Bois-Colombes’ 125th anniversaryA town anniversary to tell the story of Marking a town’s 125th anniversary calls for more than just a bonfire:…
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A giant mapping display from Puteaux Town Hall
View the project: A giant mapping display from Puteaux Town HallA classic façade, an exceptional setting Puteaux Town Hall, with its orderly architecture and striking vertical lines, provides an ideal…
The Celesta signature
What changes when the image and the fire have a single creator
Most of the visual designs are supplied by a visual design studio, whilst the lighting, if any, is provided by a company commissioned at a later stage. The two processes then take place in succession without any coordination between them. Celesta produces both, which means they can be designed together right from the initial sketch.
A single score
The light responds to the image; it does not obscure it
In Saint-Lô, to mark the eightieth anniversary of the D-Day landings, the façade depicted the destroyed town, whilst the sky took over at the very moment the image faded. This handover is carefully planned: it cannot be improvised on the night itself.
- The height must be chosen carefully. If the projection is too high, it goes beyond the viewer’s field of vision; if it is too low, it illuminates the façade and obscures the projection.
- The colours complement one another. The shades used in the print are matched to those in the image; they are not chosen from a catalogue.
- Silence is just as important. Celesta’s F4-T2 pyrotechnicians are salaried staff: they follow the same script as the camera crew.
The timetable
A map cannot be rushed
The building survey must be carried out at night; the model needs to be approved before the writing begins; and the on-site set-up requires the equipment to be in place several evenings before the performance. When the project involves pyrotechnics, a second clock starts ticking – that of the administrative process – and it never catches up with the first.
3 to 6 months
a comfortable space in which to take notes, write and produce work
1 month
the management floor as soon as a gunshot is heard in the footage
2 nights
set-up work on the façade before the first performance
48 hours
the time Celesta allows itself to reply to you
Without an intermediary
You’re speaking to those who adjust the spotlights
Celesta does not subcontract the work to a studio. The company is headquartered in Aigremont, in the Yvelines, has a second site in Normandy, and its technical teams are permanent staff. The quote therefore commits to the people who will actually be working on the aerial platform.
What Celesta is committed to
Four commitments set out in the quote
A show is judged on the night itself, but tickets are bought months in advance, based on promises. Here are the promises that Celesta sets out in black and white, rather than leaving them open to interpretation.
- The agreed amount is the amount paid. The documentation, transport and installation are included in the initial version; they are never the subject of an amendment.
- The insurance certificate is sent out with the quote, without your legal department having to request it.
- No outsourcing of mapping, lighting or pyrotechnics: Celesta’s five disciplines are all handled in-house.
- Public performance dates are provided on request, so that you can come and see a show before signing up.
The budget
How much does it cost? a video mapping show
Few service providers publish a rough estimate. Celesta does so, because a local authority drawing up its budget needs a figure before it can find a suitable provider. The price ranges below apply to a full evening’s event, including visuals and technical support.
The three levels applied
Expect to pay between 2,500 and 5,000 euros for a town with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, between 5,000 and 20,000 euros for a medium-sized town or a local authority group, and between 20,000 and 50,000 euros for a large city. A drone light show starts at 10,000 euros.
What’s really weighing on the figure
The area to be illuminated and, consequently, the light output required; the distance between the projectors and the façade; the duration of the programme; and the proportion of images created specifically for the venue rather than taken from an existing archive.
What Celesta never charges for retrospectively
Location scouting, overnight stays on site, the transport of equipment from our depots and the necessary permits for the shoot are all included in the quoted price. A request to amend the script whilst production is underway will not result in a re-quotation.
The five disciplines
The image alone, or the image along with everything else
A mapping can stand on its own. However, it benefits from being written in conjunction with its surroundings, and Celesta brings the five disciplines together under one roof: this is what enables them to interact rather than simply being piled on top of one another.
Pyrotechnic show
The pre-programmed fireworks display, timed to the schedule, was carried out by F4-T2 pyrotechnicians employed by Celesta.
Special effects
Cold sparks, controlled flames and mist, to extend the visual effect onto the floor and into the interior.
Sound and light show
Architectural lighting and sound design, when the narrative has to last a full hour.
Multimedia production
An artistic vision that brings all disciplines together to serve a single narrative.
Light drones
The aerial display, which requires a flight permit to be submitted forty-five days in advance.
Let’s talk about your façade
Send us a photo, Celesta tells you what she can wear
All we need is a photograph of the building, the proposed date and your available budget. Within 48 hours, you will receive a statement of intent and a cost estimate, with no obligation.
- Aigremont and Normandy
- Over 500 shows produced
- We’ll get back to you within 48 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
What is expected of us before running a mapping
Six short answers, using figures rather than formulae.
What is architectural video mapping?
It is a video projection superimposed onto the actual volumes of a building. Unlike a conventional projection, the image does not simply sit on the façade: it follows the contours of its cornices, openings and recesses, so that the architecture appears to transform. Celesta works from a survey of the building itself, never from a generic template.
How much does a video mapping show cost?
A municipality with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants costs between 2,500 and 5,000 euros; a medium-sized town or a local authority area costs between 5,000 and 20,000 euros; a large city between 20,000 and 50,000 euros. The area to be covered, the projection distance and the proportion of images created specifically for the venue account for most of the variation in price. Celesta quotes an all-inclusive price, with transport and site surveys included.
On which buildings can projections be shown?
A town hall, a church, a theatre, a listed monument, an industrial hall or a contemporary building are all suitable, provided two conditions are met: there must be sufficient space to set up the spotlights, and the façade must not be a colour that absorbs light. Celesta clarifies this point during the site survey, before any work begins.
Can video mapping be combined with a fireworks display?
Yes, and that is Celesta’s signature: the two are written together rather than placed side by side. The launch heights are chosen so as not to extend beyond the viewer’s frame, and the colours of the fireworks are matched to those of the image. In Saint-Lô, to mark the eightieth anniversary of the D-Day landings, the sky took over at the very moment the façade went dark.
How long should I allow for this?
Allowing three to six months before the date gives us time to erect the set, have the model approved and produce the footage without rushing. Two nights of on-site set-up are still required before the first performance. If the project involves a fireworks display, allow at least one month for administrative authorisations, and forty-five days for a drone flight.
Do you need a licence for video mapping?
The display itself is not subject to pyrotechnic regulations. However, it does require the consent of the building’s owner or manager and, in the case of a gathering on a public highway, a local authority order. As soon as a fireworks display accompanies the images, the pyrotechnic regulations apply: category F4 or more than thirty-five kilograms of active material, in accordance with Decree No. 2010-455 of 4 May 2010, with a certified applicant and operator. Celesta will put together this application for you.