The Courtyard, Oxfordshire, UK

This stunning landscape designed by Angus Thompson Design and known as “The Courtyard”, is nestled within a beautiful barn conversion in the Cotswolds. “The Courtyard” has a multilayered landscape that comes to life at night with a variety of soft warm lighting elements and techniques, which visually link seamlessly with the warmth of the interior lighting.

dpa were fortunate to have also designed the interior lighting for this stunning barn conversion filled with beautiful artworks and objects lit expertly with a selection of specialist lighting equipment to showcase the art pieces in their “best light”.

The textured elevations of the building and the broad open views of the interior create many focal points. These can be enjoyed from within the interior spaces looking out and from within the courtyard and wider landscape looking in. You will see how the art and objects of the interiors draw the eye into these carefully curated focal points within the images shown here.

Landscape Design: Angus Thompson Design
Architects: I.C. Architects
Contractor: Drew Warren
Photography: Adam Parker

 

 

IO House, London, UK

IO House challenges the typical stereotype of a family home by incorporating the Client’s passion for technology, innovation and fun. Whilst KSR Architects & Interior Designers navigated the challenges of designing a 2,000 sqm home nestled in a North London conservation area, dpa were fortunate to have designed the lighting for this stunning property working closely with all disciplines on every aspect of the lighting. The new-build house appears as a single storey dwelling on first approach, however KSR have cleverly hidden two lower levels within the carefully curated landscaped gardens (designed by Randle Siddeley) to conceal the building from neighbours, and provide privacy for the family.

In close collaboration with the Client and design team, the innovative smart home by SMC delivers a family home filled with surprising lighting elements to reflect the families personality and playfulness, whilst also responding to the open plan architecture and extension of the living space into the courtyards and landscaped gardens. Unexpected lighting elements, such as backlit onyx walls, and a twinkly green wall are all programmable from an app, allowing the family to create personalised patterns and flashing light sequences.

Interior Designers: KSR Architects & Interior Designers
Contractor: MY Construction
Smart Home Consultant: SMC Smart Homes
MEP & Sustainability Consultant: Integration
Landscape Designer: Randle Siddeley
Project Managers and Quantity Surveyor: BTP Group
Heritage Consultant: Heritage Collective
Structural Engineers: Price & Myers
Planning Consultant: dp9
Photography: Taran Wilkhu Photography © and Adam Letch

 

Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, UAE – Royal Penthouse

Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai is a newly constructed, 5 Star resort style hotel located on Dubai’s Arabian Gulf shoreline.

Over a period of 4 years, dpa worked in close collaboration with the Client, Operator and Design Team WASL Group, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Architects DAR and Interior Designers Design Wilkes, Silverfox and Opaal Interiors to design the lighting solutions for all public FoH areas of the Hotel, internally and externally.

Interior Design for the Guestrooms, Public Areas and Ballroom facilities was undertaken by Design Wilkes whilst the Interior Design for the Royal Penthouse was completed by Opaal Interiors.  Silverfox Studios provided the Interior Design for the Spa and Fitness Centre and the Specialty Restaurants, The Bay, Tasca and Netsu.  Landscape design was courtesy of 40North and Cracknells.

As part of the design brief dpa worked closely with all parties from initial conception stage, ensuring that the lighting design was cohesive throughout the hotel, and well integrated within the Interior Design and Architecture.

dpa followed the project through to the construction stages, maintaining a regular presence on site to ensure the designs were fully understood and coordinated with the various contractors, suppliers, consultants and site teams.

Whilst all spaces are special in their own way, the most impactful moments within the Hotel occur in the Main Lobby and within Netsu Restaurant.

The Main Lobby is very important, forming the first impression of the Hotel for arriving guests and visitors.  At 12 metres tall, it provided a challenge to ensure that the lighting was sufficient to adequately illuminate the space during daylight hours, with the dimming range to provide subtlety and ambience after dark.  A discreet, linear, ceiling recessed system was designed and specified, allowing high output linear LED luminaires to be installed in a way which matched the rhythm of the architecture and the ceiling.

At ground level, there is a colonnade of 14 Light Trees, designed by Design Wilkes and Preciosa, with technical and aesthetic input from dpa. The Trees feature approximately 900 individually addressed LED light points, illuminating hand blown glass leaves. The leaves are programmed to produce dynamic ripples of light, individually varying their brightness to create differing effects. The arrangement of the colonnades leads the eye along the central water feature, and through to the landscaped, beach adjacent courtyard and lap pool.

Within Netsu, a signature restaurant on the ground level, Silverfox Studios produced an industrial aesthetic, with a combination of rugged and natural materials. The brief was to create a theatrical dining experience, to use the central open Robata kitchen as a ‘stage’.

In response to this, dpa implemented a series of suspended lighting truss rigs, upon which were mounted theatrical RGBW projectors, with variable beam angles and focussing.  These projectors were used to provide warm white intensity at the points where food is displayed and served, and dramatic coloured accents around the space.  RGBW linear floodlights were mounted on top of the rigs to provide a coloured wash of light to the MEP service at high level, accentuating the height and industrial aesthetic of the space.

To see more, please click on video below.

Owner: WASL Group
Operator: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Project Manager: DAR
Architect: DAR
Interior Designer for Public Areas: Design Wilkes
Interior Designer for Spa and Restaurants: Silverfox Studios
Interior Designer for the Royal Penthouse: Opaal Interiors
Interior Design Coordinators: PMQ
Landscape Consultants: 40North and Cracknells
MEP Consultant: SEED Engineering
Photography: Ales Vyslouzil and Preciosa Lighting (Lobby Photos) and Alex Jeffries Photography Group and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

 

 

 

Private Residence, London, UK

This unique, early 20th Century, Grade II listed property has been carefully designed and detailed by the Interior Designer T E Smith and Architect BLDA, creating a modern home whilst revealing and reinstating many of the original building’s features such as the mosaic frieze in the master bathroom and the majestic double height gallery space.

The lighting design strategy concentrated on illuminating the client’s carefully crafted art collection, revealing the beauty of the artworks, whilst providing inter-reflected borrowed light to provide a soft ambient base. Layers of light were added through the revealing of details and highlighting of surfaces such as coves, coffers, nooks and reveals. The traditional lathe and plaster ceiling prevented the use of recessed downlights, so for spaces where higher illumination levels were desired, discreet miniature surface mounted downlights were sparingly used.

The result is a carefully curated project which integrates the historic building architecture, with art gallery aspects, and the warmth of a welcoming home.

Architect: BLDA in collaboration with T E Smith Dip Arch RIBA
Interior Design: T E Smith Dip Arch RIBA
Services Engineer: QODA Consulting Ltd
Quantity Surveying: Sampson Associates Consultants Ltd
Structural Engineer: Constructure Ltd
Main Contractor: Chelsea Construction Company
Photography: Adam Parker

The Whiteley, London, UK

dpa lighting consultants are very pleased to have been working for the last two years on a major new luxury residential development in the centre of London, “The Whiteley”.

The old Whiteleys shopping centre in Queensway has been completely redeveloped with only the protected façade retained.

dpa have worked closely with architect Foster + Partners, Finchatton and the design team on the transformation to 139 luxury residential apartments and sensitive lighting to the façade.

We have also collaborated with Foster + Partners, and interior designer Avroko to develop the lighting to all the common areas and shared owners facilities.

The Whiteley is a joint venture development between MARK and C C Land, with Finchatton acting as development manager.

We are pleased to share examples of the current visuals of the development which is currently under construction.

Further details about The Whiteley development can also be found on their website: www.thewhiteleylondon.com, or by clicking here.

Development Owner: MARK and C C Land
Development Manager: Finchatton
Architect: Foster + Partners
Interior Design: Foster + Partners and Avroko
Visuals: Courtesy of Finchatton

Oceanic House, London, UK

Oceanic House is a Grade II listed building which was formerly the London headquarters for the White Star Line – the company that built the RMS Titanic.

The former office building has been sympathetically converted into seven luxury residences.

Lighting was carefully designed to allow future residents flexibility in how they fit-out the interior spaces of their property, giving consideration to lighting of different activities, furnishing and artwork locations, and provision for future chandeliers, wall-lights and table-lamps. Lighting was also carefully detailed and integrated into fixed joinery elements, such as wardrobes.

Each residence has their own dedicated lighting control system for the creation of different lighting scenes and moods.

The project was awarded 5 Stars for the UK Best Architecture Multiple Residence in the 2018 International Property Awards.

Client: Misland Capital
Architect: BLDA Architects
Photography: Adam Parker

 

Private Residence, Oxfordshire, UK

dpa were appointed to develop the lighting to this beautiful home and landscape within a greenbelt location in Oxfordshire. With architecture by Waind Gohil & Potter and landscaping by Angus Thompson Design, the strong modern scheme led us to an appropriately considered and carefully coordinated series of lighting proposals.

Lighting was integrated within joinery details, positioned discreetly and selected with minimal visual intrusion as a priority. This approach allowed the interior volumes and architectural rhythm to be exposed in the evenings. It was very important to ensure a softness was brought to the home through decorative lighting at low level and gentle highlights to artworks making this a very comfortable environment for the family.

Lighting to the landscape includes decorative wall lanterns around the property, with spike mounted luminaires along routes and providing highlight to key planting elements. The nature of the lighting to the exterior was purposefully low key and respectful of the rural position whilst gently leading out to amazing lakeside views.

Architect: Waind Gohil & Potter
Landscape and Garden Design: Angus Thompson Design
Main Contractor: S W Carpentry & Joinery
Electrical Contractor: N&M Electrical Ltd
Photography: Matt Livey

10 Trinity Square, Four Seasons Residences, London, UK

Ten Trinity Square London was originally built as the Port of London Authority HQ and is an outstanding example of Beaux-Arts Architecture. The building was opened by the then Prime Minister, David Lloyd George in 1922. The property has undergone a comprehensive and meticulous restoration and upgrade and now houses a Four Seasons Hotel, Residences and a Private Members Club.

dpa has worked on the project for almost four years carefully coordinating with the owner Reignwood Group, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and the professional team. dpa have been responsible for the lighting design of the exterior building including the Great Tower, all Public Areas/UN Ballroom, Guestrooms, Suites, Apartments, The Club, the Spa and two signature restaurants La Dame de Pic and Mei Ume. The lighting design has been sensitively conceived and implemented to enhance the existing architecture and new parts of the structure.

The project is substantial and has numerous areas, which would be too much to describe in this publication, but we would be happy to provide further details to anyone who is interested.

Owner: Reignwood Group
Operator: Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Project Manager: Gardiner and Theobald LLP
Architect: Aukett Swanke
Interior Designer for The Private Members Club: 4bI & Associates
M&E Consultant: Waterman Group
Photography: Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

Private Residence, Oxfordshire, UK

As lighting designers, we are fortunate to work on varied project types, design teams and Clients. This private residential project in Oxford was a very fortunate collaboration with a creative design team and Client who understood exactly how to mould this city town house with careful and considered detailing and respect for its heritage.

Our design approach dovetailed seamlessly with the creating thinking of BLA Architects and Charlotte Neame Interior Design along with Samantha Willis Garden Design. Of course the Clients were integral to the creative process and a pleasure to work with.

The result is a carefully curated project with interest and accent in abundance, where lighting is significant in all areas. Lighting is concealed where possible to enhance the interesting architectural features, artwork and sculpture within the interior spaces and stunning yet modest landscaped spaces, which connect the inside with the exterior.

Client: Patricia & Jose Bonchristiano
Project Manager & Contractor: Richard Ward Oxford Ltd
Architect: BLA Architects
Interior Designer: Charlotte Neame
Landscape Designer: Samantha Willis Garden Design
M&E Consultant: AE Systems

 

Private Residence, Oxfordshire, UK

This beautifully designed and detailed private residential project in North Oxfordshire within a country farm location was an enjoyable collaboration with BLA Architects and a Client who understood exactly how to furnish and dress the property with a cohesive and creative style throughout.

Careful and considered detailing and respect for its rural location, along with our design approach echoed the aspirations of the Architects and Client’s desire for inspiring spaces, which connect with each other as well as the outside. The lighting reinforces each space with a considered architectural lighting approach, which accents and reveals the interior materials and also reveals the mature external areas.

The result is a carefully curated project with interest and accent in abundance and where lighting is significant in all areas. Lighting is concealed where possible to enhance the interesting architectural features and artwork with the stunning interior spaces, which connect with the exterior.

Architect: BLA Architects
Photography: Courtesy of Mark Nicholson Photography

Embassy Boulevard, Bangalore, India

Embassy Boulevard is a very high end private community development located to the north of Bangalore with great communication links to Bangalore, the airport and beyond.

dpa were commissioned to produce an exterior lighting masterplan and to design the interior, façade and landscape lighting of three luxury show villas for the project.

The site wide masterplan considered the hierarchy of the lighting in order to help visually identify primary, secondary and tertiary streets, as well as the illumination of gateway features and nodes helping to orientate residents and visitors alike. The large gateway structure at the junction with the main public highway helps to identify the development and acts as a portal to the site signifying a transition from the hustle and bustle of the city to a calm relaxing home. The central roundabout water feature creates a node of activity and helps to properly signify your arrival to the development, whilst also aiding orientation for persons moving around the development.

It was important for the show villas to be recognisable at night, helping to reinforce the arrival sequence and sense of wonder in prospective buyers during their tours of the development. The villas’ architecture consists of a series of interconnecting volumes tied together with a consistent privacy / solar glare control screen wooden feature. This screen is emphasised through the use of a continuously mounted narrow beam linear luminaire grazing the structure of the screen whilst providing illumination to the perimeter and threshold of each villa. Further, in many locations these luminaires also back light a number of sheer curtains providing a pleasant backdrop to many of the interior spaces.

The lighting to each villa’s private garden was carefully implemented to provide a relaxing space without over-lighting and thereby avoiding any impact on the privacy of residents. Key elements such as trees and feature walls are illuminated, revealing their form and texture and creating different layers of light gently expressing the space at night. The swimming pools have limited lighting aiding safety of use at night, but predominantly act as a reflecting pool mirroring the façade of the villa and illuminated landscape elements.

Our intent with the interiors was to create a welcoming, beautifully lit home, expressing the architectural features and the texture and appearance of the materials and furnishings used. This was achieved through the use of concealed linear luminaires grazing curtains and selected walls, and the use of low glare, deep recessed adjustable downlight luminaires to accent light wall-hung artworks, sculptures and other features. Additional downlights are utilised over tables helping to create a focal point to the room. Combined with the interior designer’s selected decorative chandeliers, table and floor standing lamps, a warm, welcoming, homely feel was created.

For the higher specification of villas a lighting control system was installed allowing different lighting scenes to be selected automatically at the touch of a button. Within each scene, the brightness and intensity of different groups of luminaires is automatically adjusted to a pre-programmed level completely changing the mood and feel of each space to suit the current activity be this, entertaining, dining, relaxing, watching television, etc.

Client and Operator: Embassy Group
Project Manager: Synergy Property Development Services
Architect and Interior Design: Andy Fisher Workshop
Photography: Courtesy of Embassy Group and LSI

Holland Park, London, UK

This residential property is located in the exclusive area of Holland Park in London.
It is a substantial property over a number of floors and underwent a complete interior and exterior refurbishment. Interior design was by McLean Quinlan. Gary Campbell, London partner at dpa was commissioned to undertake all lighting design aspects for the house and garden with a high degree of design and detailing. All lighting was integrated into the contemporary interior design aesthetic or as discreet as possible. Fibre-optics where also incorporated where necessary for artwork lighting or to cater for inaccessible lighting positions. The client had a collection of valuble picture frames and part of the commission was to illuminate these. All lighting was controlled through a scene set dimming system.

Architect and Interior Designer: McLean Quinlan Architects

 

Villa, Green Community, Dubai, UAE

The client undertook a major refurbishment of their villa located within the Green Community development.  As part of the works, the interiors were stripped back, walls removed and relocated, new bathrooms added and the electrical wiring was completely replaced.  The gardens to the villa were also transformed as part of the works.  dpa were invited to carry out both the interior and exterior lighting redesign, working closely with the client, interior designer and the audio visual/controls provider to ensure that the completed lighting met all the requirements of the family and to help create their new home.

The client has a substantial art collection of paintings and sculptures and the lighting had to cater for this as an integral and discrete component of the new lighting installation.

Penthouse, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE

We were very fortunate to have been involved in the lighting design for this unique project, where the completed installation had to meet the very highest of standards and quality demanded by the client.  The lighting had to achieve very precise lit environments, whilst being flexible and easy to live with, whilst meeting aesthetically exacting details.  Through the hard work of the client, the design and construction teams, the completed installation was of the highest possible quality and standards.

Although the extremely demanding criteria established at the outset of the project was challenging and required significant resources to meet (as no detail or function could be left to chance) it was truly a pleasure to work on this project.

St James’ Gateway, London, UK

St James’s Gateway is situated a stone’s throw from the bustling metropolis of Piccadilly Circus. The mixed residential and office redevelopment is eye catching, though its use of modern lines, while strongly reflecting modern design values. The façades also benefits from two integrated sculptures designed by Richard Deacon.

External Façades – Piccadilly, One Eagle Place, Jermyn Street and Clydesdale Bank Facade.

The facades are a mixture of modern and existing rebuilt classical designs. The design philosophy, was to sympathetically illuminate the rhythm of the architecture, while drawing the eye towards its features. The emphasis from the outset was to minimize cable runs and ensure the lighting equipment, was as concealed and as unobtrusive as possible. We did this by using mainly surface mounted warm white Metal Halide projectors and linear LED luminaries. Bespoke luminaires were developed with manufactures to ensure the equipment was as discreet as possible.

Internal Lighting – 18 – 21 Jermyn Street – Residential Apartments and 27 Regent Street – Residential Apartments.

The internal entrance spaces are of a clean cut modern architectural design. This look and feel was taken through and reflected within the internal residential spaces. The design was built up using layers of light, controlled through a scene set lighting control system, tailored to serve each of the rooms different functions.

 

Private Residence, Oxfordshire, UK

As a Practice, we are equally happy working on smaller or larger projects of all types. In fact, we thoroughly enjoy the variety of work in terms of scale from a building type and style. We have deliberately campaigned to attract a wide portfolio of work. This particular home in Oxfordshire is a substantial property where the owners value the quality of their environment. Colours, furniture, the architecture, the artwork and in fact every aspect of their home is really important to them. We were delighted to be asked to help the Architect with this refurbishment.

The property enjoys excellent daylight when available through it’s magnificent windows, and the artificial lighting is designed with various circuits that can be used at different times of the day and night depending on how much natural light is available, what is happening in the room and the mood of the occupants. The lighting of the artwork was a particular challenge; the art work is extremely important to the owners and it has a significant effect on all of the rooms. We debated and discussed the artwork lighting options between some form of picture lighting and recessed adjustable luminaires in the ceiling. In the end it was decided to use the ceiling recessed option to provide clutter free walls where picture lights do not detract from the pictures and also to provide flexibility by using different beam angles and lenses that could if required easily be altered in the future. We wanted to minimise the visual effect of the downlights in the ceiling, and hence a particularly neat fixture that had all the necessary functionality with the lamp set back to eliminate glare was selected.

In addition to the picture lighting a number of other decorative lighting elements have been carefully selected and linked to dedicated 5 amp socket outlets.

The result is a stunning property that the owners are now fully enjoying.

Photography courtesy of Red Shift Photography.

Private Residence, Kiltinan, Eire

Extensive external lighting was designed for this rural estate in Kiltinan. Parts of the project were Grade 1 listed. The challenge was to create a flexible easy to use, installation to provide security, utility and amenity lighting, which at the same time must be discrete and avoid any damage to the listed parts of the buildings. It was necessary to design a number of bespoke fixings and brackets to achieve this.

Given the rural nature of the area, it is important to avoid any spill light or light pollution. This was achieved through careful siting of equipment and the use of baffles and louvres. A number of different light sources were required to meet varying requirements, ranging from 20W low voltage to 150W metal halide lamps.

Private Residence, Gloucestershire, UK

The minimalistic contemporary glass cube within this project connects the main living spaces within this residential development and it was important for the lighting design to respect this strong architectural feature.

The lighting served to only illuminate the key characteristics contained within this box, ensuring appropriate levels of warm white light aimed at the artwork, horse sculpture and points of circulation.

At night the result is quite dramatic and made even more so with the inclusion of a lighting control system, which offers varying lighting states within the space.

 

Private Residence, Berkshire, UK

This unique contemporary designed riverside property has been lit using a combination of recessed downlights, concealed uplights and classic decorative fixtures.

The floor to ceiling glazing offers beautiful views across the river during the day, whilst at night, the view of the externally lit garden can be enjoyed from a lit and dimmed interior, without the distraction of reflections of light sources in the glass.

The lighting of the open plan living space allows different areas within the room to be emphasised with light according to the activity being carried out. At the touch of a button, the lighting emphasis can be switched from the Dining Table to the Kitchen and then onto the Lounge area.

Private Garden, Oxfordshire, UK

A sympathetic lighting solution has been achieved to this secluded residential landscape within Oxfordshire.

Key features within the garden were identified as points of reference to provide focal points from the front to the rear of the landscape.

All lighting equipment has been designed to conceal the equipment unless desirable as objects themselves so as to respect the natural environment.