De Gendarmerie regeneration

De Gendarmerie, located in the heart of Aalst, is a former police barracks that has been transformed into a ‘talent incubator’. This transformation goes beyond the mere renovation of the building. Under the leadership of the City of Aalst and the OCMW (Public Centre for Social Welfare), the aim is to offer a multi-functional public space where residents can meet up and train in order to reintegrate the labour market. The site is home to various organisations whose mission is to help people discover or rediscover their talents.

The site also has a community restaurant, ‘De Combi’, where everyone can enjoy a healthy meal at a social price that suits everyone's financial situation. The restaurant is also a training centre for people in the hospitality industry. A social mini-market, ‘De Caddi’, allows people in financial difficulties to choose their own groceries, free of charge, in a welcoming environment. A crèche has also opened its doors to help people balance work and family life.

The aim is not only to provide practical services, but also to offer a multi-functional space open to all. The city also wanted this regeneration to embody its vision of modernity and sustainability, paying particular attention to the architecture to make De Gendarmerie a welcoming and innovative place.
 

Lighting for a safe and welcoming ambiance

The inner courtyard of the barracks has been redesigned to host different types of events and cultural activities and to integrate a children's playground with activity structures. It was important that the lighting created a warm, welcoming ambiance to encourage people to enjoy these facilities both day and night.

10 SHUFFLE poles with 360° light modules were installed, providing an uniform lighting across the courtyard, reducing shadows and enhancing the sense of security. The SHUFFLE’s modern, elegant design and high energy efficiency were a perfect match for the city’s lighting requirements.
 

A modular platform to enhance services for citizens 

The city also wanted to integrate other functions into the lighting system so as not to clutter the space. It wanted to be able to: 

• broadcast music or announcements;
• have a surveillance system;
• provide WiFi;
• easily switch off the lighting when an event requires it.

The multi-functional SHUFFLE smart pole was the perfect solution as it could integrate all these features thanks to its pre-wired modules with plug-and-play installation. Each luminaire incorporates a speaker, camera, WiFi router and sockets that can be used during events.

By integrating all these features into a single pole, the city has significantly reduced the number of structures required, creating a more open space with a reduced environmental footprint.
 

An optimal user experience 

Our team strategically installed the SHUFFLE smart poles not only for the lighting but also to ensure that everyone could fully benefit from their features. The loudspeaker harmoniously diffuses sound throughout the outdoor spaces, while the WiFi coverage was optimised for the courtyard to provide the best user experience.

The WiFi router has been integrated directly into the 360° lighting module with the lower part of the glass sand sandblasted for an aesthetic and discreet integration while ensuring protection from the elements.