Over 5,000 visitors queued up to admire 250 classic racing cars registered for the race which recalled the golden age of BMW, Ford, Porsche and Jaguar to name a few. 15 lighting balloons from Airstar's Lunix range were deployed and used for various purposes including decoration, space filling, lighting and signage.
With a diameter ranging between 2 and 2.5m, all 15 balloons were inflated with helium and contained a couple of 1kW halogen lamps, with one exception: a gigantic 10m wide balloon suspended in the middle of the nave - the biggest space in the Grand Palais - displaying the logo of the event and its main sponsor, Optic 2ooo, the leading optical retailer in France.
A blower motor, integrated in the balloon, continuously blew out air to maintain perfect inflation of the 500cu.m balloon, keeping the whole structure operational 24 hours a day for three consecutive days.
It only took a couple of hours for the Airstar team to install and inflate the imposing structure, containing 40kW halogen lamps. With such power, the balloon was able to light up a 4,000sq.m zone with a natural and non-dazzling light, making it the perfect solution for this event. The central balloon had both an aesthetic and functional role during the day, taking over when ambient light wasn't sufficient and stealing the show during the evening.
The sphere was put to the test during the VIP party - which hosted a mixture of 6,000 VIPs, including celebrities and former racing drivers - overcoming the herculean challenge of lighting up the Grand Palais nave and its surroundings, while simultaneously highlighting the event logo and its main sponsor.
Suspended, inflated with air or with helium, the Lunix range offers various diameters between 2 and 10m - features which result in it being widely acclaimed in the event, rental staging and architectural lighting industries, both for outdoor or inside events. The textile layer of the balloon (which can be round or oval depending on requirements and the desired effect) allows gradual light to pass, and benefits from a fire-retardancy treatment (European norm M1) for maximum safety. The balloons can be entirely personalised, thanks to self-adhesive vinyl and coloured top envelopes that can be embroidered or printed.
Edouard de Saint Olive, Purchase and Logistics Manager at Peter Auto, knew precisely what Airstar could offer the event - and contacted the lighting balloon manufacturer after seeing them in action at event trade shows. "Airstar benefits from a reputation in the event industry and we were convinced by the quality of their products and services from day one. We didn't have to make any tests or trials, and were fully satisfied with the end result. The visitors, as well as the sponsors and even the racing drivers, gave us a very positive feedback about the lighting as well as the look and feel."
Although the quality of lighting played an important role, in particular for the VIP party, the sheer volume of the Airstar spheres was dominant.
With 77.000sq.m to cater for and a dome 45m high, filling the space was indeed essential. "The volume of the balloons helped us to visually fill in the nave and create a striking effect within a reasonable budget," confirms Edouard de Saint Olive. "For such an exceptional venue, we needed a company that would rise to the challenge, and the Airstar balloons played a lighting and space filling role to perfection."
From the organisers' point of view, they simply needed to draw an electric cable, held down with a sandbag on the base, and the Airstar balloon was d
