Villa Morillon and Domaine d’Harcourt: à la carte restoration
Reading time: 2 min
The modernisation of historical sites requires advanced expertise and an ability to adapt to unique environments. Two such projects involved Villa Morillon in Switzerland and Domaine d’Harcourt in France.
©markusbeyeler
Renovation and modernisation projects at heritage sites have to meet highly specific requirements. The need to respect heritage locations leaves engineers and technicians no room for error. Even when the work at hand is particularly ambitious.
A masterpiece of Swiss neoclassicism built near Bern in 1832, Villa Morillon was renovated so it could accommodate cultural events and office spaces. The electrical works for this major project were entrusted to Etavis Bern-Mittelland AG and included outlet and lighting circuits, chandelier connections, heating, ventilation, climate control, exterior lighting, control systems, mains-voltage installations, fire alarms, intrusion detection systems, and optical-fibre networks.
The need to respect heritage locations leaves no room for error.
“Installing the cabling and connections required significant commitment from our teams, because the facade, woodwork and paintwork had to be left untouched,” says Michael Zurbuchen, Administration and Operations Manager at Etavis.
Nocturnal trail and immersive experience
In France, an upgrade to Domaine d’Harcourt, the iconic site in the Eure department, demanded the same meticulous approach from the Lesens Électricité teams, who worked together to develop the infrastructure for Arbora Lumina, the chateau’s night-time activity trail. Made up of nine sound and light set-pieces, this attraction was designed to enhance the medieval estate and its unique arboretum.
“We had three months to install the electrical networks for the stage lighting and audiovisual solutions to create an immersive experience,” explains Pierre-Adrien Cosme, Business Unit Manager at Lesens Électricité. “We also installed the video protection systems and electric vehicle charging infrastructure to enhance site security and accessibility.”
Domaine d’Harcourt is the Eure department’s third-largest pay-to-enter tourist destination. The departmental council, which owns the site, hopes that these enhancements will increase annual visitor numbers from 30,000 to 130,000 by 2027.
06/18/2026
