L'Observatoire International is a lighting design firm established by Hervé Descottes in 1993 in New York City. The firm works within a range of different spatial expressions including architecture, landscape, urban, and fine art projects.
L'Observatoire has become known for its innovative ways of applying light within the built environment, and does so by merging the latest technologies with an aesthetic paradigm in order to most advantageously engage and reveal the program, space, and form.Ultimate Lighting Design, Projects by Hervé Descottes / L'Observatoire International The firm has collaborated with architects and designers including Steven Holl, Frank Gehry, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Jean Nouvel, Richard Meier, Peter Marino.
In July 2025, L'Observatoire International opened an office in London, expanding the studio's presence beyond its established offices in New York, Paris, and Seoul.
Recent notable works Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Gehry Partners, LLP, Abu Dhabi (2026) Marcel, at the Breuer Building, New York NY, USA (2026) Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain, Paris, France (2025) National Gallery's Sainsbury Wing, London, UK (2025) Le Grand Café, at Le Grand Palais, Paris, France (2025) Central Presbyterian Church, New York NY, USA (2025) Faena New York, New York NY, USA (2025) The Frick Collection, New York NY, USA (2025) Bloomberg Student Center, at The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, USA (2025) Printemps New York, New York NY, USA (2025) Clemente Bar, New York NY, USA (2024) Locanda Verde Hudson Yards, New York NY, USA (2024) South Street Seaport, New York NY, USA (2024) La Tête d'Or, New York NY, USA (2024) Azabudai Hills, Tokyo, Japan (2024) Transamerica Pyramid, Foster and Partners, San Francisco, CA, USA (2024) Coqodaq, Rockwell Group, New York NY, USA (2024) Harrods Facade, London, UK (2024) Blanton Museum of Art Grounds, Austin TX, USA (2024) Korean Cultural Center New York, New York NY, USA (2024) Lindemann Performing Arts Center at Brown University, REX (architecture firm), Providence, RI, USA (2023) De Durgerdam Boutique Hotel, K&P Architekten, Buro Belen, Amsterdam, Netherlands (2023) The Schwarzman Center at Yale University, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP, New Haven, CT, USA (2022) LUMA Arles, Gehry Partners, LLP, Arles, France (2021) Audrey Irmas Pavilion, Office for Metropolitan Architecture, Los Angeles, CA, USA (2021) Winter Visual Arts Center of Franklin & Marshall College, Steven Holl Architects, Lancaster, PA, USA (2020) Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, Gehry Partners, LLP, Washington, DC (2020) The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Steven Holl Architects, Houston, TX, USA (2020) National Museum of Qatar, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Doha, Qatar (2019) Vessel (structure), Heatherwick Studio, New York NY, USA (2019) The REACH of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Steven Holl Architects, Washington DC, USA (2019) Château de Malleret Chai, Dubuisson Architecture, Le Pian-Médoc, France (2018) Le Louvre, Pyramid Renovation, Dubuisson Architecture, Paris, France (2018) Institute for Contemporary Art, Richmond, Steven Holl Architects, Richmond, VA, USA (2018) The Grill at Seagram Building, in collaboration with designer William T. Georgis, New York NY, USA (2017) Faena Hotel Miami Beach, Bazmark, Miami, FL, USA (2015) Philharmonie de Paris, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Paris, France (2015) Seamarq Hotel, Richard Meier Partners, Gengneung, South Korea (2015) House of Dior Seoul, Peter Marino Architects, Christian de Partzamparc, Seoul, South Korea (2015) Metropolitan Museum of Art, Olin Partnership, New York NY, USA (2014) Aspen Art Museum, Shigeru Ban Architects, Aspen, CO, USA (2014) Fondation Louis Vuitton, Gehry Partners, LLP, Paris, France (2014) Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Munich, Agence Jouin Manku, Munich, Germany (2014) Fendi Avenue Montaigne, Curiosity, Paris, France (2014) Viña Vik, Smijan Radic, Millahue, Chile (2014) Conrad Hotel, KPF, New York, NY, USA (2012) Daeyang Gallery & Guesthouse, Steven Holl Architects, Seoul, Korea (2012) Museum of the Moving Image, Leeser Architecture, Queens, NY (2011) Cite de l'Ocean et du Surf, Steven Holl Architects, Biarritz, France (2011) Beekman Tower, Gehry Partners, LLP, New York, NY (2011) Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Rick Mather Architects + SMBW, Richmond, VA (2011) Steel Stacks Campus, Wallace Roberts & Todd, Bethlehem, PA (2011) Vanke Center, Steven Holl Architects, Shenzhen, China (2011) Taikoo Place, Wong & Ouyang, Hong Kong, China (2010) Marc Jacobs Tokyo, Stephan Jakitsch Architects, Tokyo, Japan (2010) Hermes Rive Gauche, Rene Dumas, Architecture Interieure, Paris, France (2010) ABC Kitchen, Jan Burtz, Jim Denney, Eric Slayton, New York, NY (2010) Les Lalanne, Musee de Arts Decoratifs, Peter Marino Architects, Paris, France (2010) Lincoln Center Redevelopment: Alice Tully Hall, Diller, Scorfidio + Renfro, New York, NY (2009) The High Line, Field Operations, New York, NY (2009) The Standard Hotel, Polshek Partnership Architects, New York, NY (2009) Juilliard School Expansion, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, New York, NY, USA (2008) Art Gallery of Ontario, Gehry Partners, LLP, Toronto, Canada (2008) Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, Polshek Partnership (now Ennead Architects), Brooklyn, NY (2008) The Pink Project: Make It Right Foundation, Graft, Founder: Brad Pitt, New Orleans, LA (2008) Louis Vuitton Foundation for Creation, Gehry Partners, LLP, Paris, France (2008) Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Gehry Partners, LLP, Las Vegas, NV (2008) Novartis, Gehry Partners, LLP, Basel, Switzerland (2008) The French Presidency of the European Union, Agence Sylvain Dubuisson, Brussels, Belgium (2007) Vivocity, Toyo Ito & Associates, Singapore (2007) Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Sylvain Dubuisson, Paris, France (2007) Guthrie Theater, Atelier Jean Nouvel, Minneapolis, MN (2006) Buffalo Bayou: Sabine to Bagby Promenade, SWA Group, Houston, TX (2006) Bronx Museum, Architectonica, New York, NY (2006) Columbus Circle, Olin Partnership, New York, NY (2005) Sculptural Ensemble of Constantin Brâncuși at Târgu Jiu, OLIN, Târgu Jiu, Romania (2004) Leeum Samsung Museum of Art, Atelier Jean Nouvel, OMA/Rem Koolhas, Seoul, Korea (2004) Walt-Disney Concert Hall, Frank O. Gehry & Associates, Los Angeles, CA (2003) Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, Frank O. Gehry & Associates, Annandale-On-Hudson, NY, USA (2003) Bellevue Arts Museum, Steven Holl Architects, Bellevue, WA (2001) Langston Hughes Library, Maya lin Studio, Clinton, TN (2000) Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Steven Holl Architects, Helsinki, Finland (1998) Cranbrook Institute of Science, Steven Holl Architects, Bloomfield Hills, MI (1998) Chapel of St. Ignatius, Steven Holl Architects, Seattle, WA, USA (1997)
Awards
2026 - American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Architecture 2026 - Architizer Award Special Mention for Bloomberg Student Center, at The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA 2026 - Architizer Award Special Mention for The Frick Collection, New York NY, USA 2026 - Architizer Award Special Mention for Faena New York, New York NY, USA 2026 - Illuminating Engineering Institute of Japan (IEJ) Good Lighting Award for Azabudai Hills, Tokyo, Japan 2026 - IES Illumination Award of Merit for The Frick Collection, New York NY, USA 2026 - IES Illumination Award of Merit for Bloomberg Student Center, at The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA 2026 - IES Illumination Award of Merit for Printemps New York, New York NY, USA 2025 - Best of Year Interior Design, Large Retail Winner, for Printemps New York, New York NY, USA 2025 - Architect's Newspaper Best of Design Honorable Mention for Transamerica Pyramid, San Francisco, CA, USA 2025 - Dezeen Award, Architectural Lighting Design of the Year, for Hermès’s Collections at Milan Design Week, Milan, Italy 2025 - LIT Award Visitor Experience & Museum Exhibition Winner for Hermès’s Collections at Milan Design Week, Milan, Italy 2025 - LIT Award Retail Lighting Winner for Printemps New York, New York NY, USA 2025 - LIT Award Bar & Restaurant Winner for Le Grand Café, at Le Grand Palais, Paris, France 2025 - LIT Award Bar & Restaurant Winner for Clemente Bar, New York NY, USA 2025 - Beacon Award of Excellence, Retail Lighting Design, for Printemps New York, New York NY, USA 2025 - Beacon Award of Excellence, Commercial Interior Lighting Design, for Transamerica Pyramid, San Francisco, CA, USA 2025 - AIA New York Design Award of Merit in Architecture, for Lindemann Performing Arts Center at Brown University, Providence, RI, USA 2025 - AIA New York Design Award of Honor in Urban Design, for Blanton Museum of Art Grounds, Austin TX, USA 2025 - AIA New York Design Award, Citation for Biodiversity, for Google NYC at St. John’s Terminal 2025 - Design Educates Award, Silver Prize in Architectural Design, for Lindemann Performing Arts Center at Brown University, Providence, RI, USA 2025 - IES Illumination Award of Merit for Coqodaq, New York NY, USA 2025 - NYCxDesign Award, Shining Moment, for Korean Cultural Center New York, New York NY, USA 2025 - IALD Award of Merit for Transamerica Pyramid, San Francisco, CA, USA 2025 - Illuminating Engineering Institute of Japan (IEJ) Good Lighting Award for Toranomon Hills Station Tower, Tokyo, Japan 2024 - Best of Year Interior Design, Shining Moment, for Lindemann Performing Arts Center at Brown University, Providence, RI, USA 2024 - LIT Award Bar & Restaurant Winner for Coqodaq, New York NY, USA 2024 - LIT Award Cultural Building Winner for Lindemann Performing Arts Center at Brown University, Providence, RI, USA 2024 - IES Illumination Award of Merit for Audemars Piguet House New York, New York NY, USA 2023 - LIT Award Fashion Design Lighting, for Hermès’s Collections at Milan Design Week, Milan, Italy 2023 - LIT Award Cultural Building Lighting Design, for Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel. 2023 - LIT Award Bar and Restaurant Lighting Design, for Tin Building by Jean-Georges, New York NY, USA 2023 - Architect's Newspaper Best of Practice Award Winner Lighting Design Firm Northeast 2023 - IES Illumination Award of Merit for The Schwarzman Center at Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA 2023 - LUMEN Award of Excellence, for Tin Building by Jean-Georges, New York NY, USA 2023 - IES Illumination Award of Merit for Tin Building by Jean-Georges, New York NY, USA 2023 - IALD Award of Merit for The Schwarzman Center at Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA 2023 - Architizer Award, Architect + Light, Popular Choice, for The Schwarzman Center at Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA 2022 - American Institute of Architects Los Angeles, Building of the Year Award for Audrey Irmas Pavilion, Office for Metropolitan Architecture, Los Angeles, CA, USA 2022 - Architect's Newspaper Best of Design Honorable Mention for Hermès’s Collections at Milan Design Week, Milan, Italy 2022 - LUMEN Award of Merit, for Winter Visual Arts Center of Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, USA 2022 - LIT Award Design of the Year, for Hermès’s Collections at Milan Design Week, Milan, Italy 2022 - Best of Year Interior Design, for Hermès’s Collections at Milan Design Week, Milan, Italy 2022 - Best of Year Interior Design, for The Schwarzman Center at Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA 2022 - IES Illumination Award of Merit for Audrey Irmas Pavilion, Office for Metropolitan Architecture, Los Angeles, CA, USA 2021 - LIT Award for Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, Gehry Partners, LLP, Washington, DC 2021 - IES Illumination Award of Merit for The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Houston, TX, USA 2021 - IES Illumination Award of Merit for the British Galleries at the MET, New York NY, USA