It’s great to live in Melbourne

July 20th, 2011 by paul

It might be the middle of the winter. But, undoubtedly, it’s one of the best times of the year to be in Melbourne.

That’s because when the weather turns gnarly, it design, design, design down Melbourne way.

First we had the Light in Winter festival which gets better every year.  And now, starting today, it’s State of Design; Australia’s premier design festival with over 100 events over the next 11 days.  Of course we’re excited most about LightCycle but there are so many other great things to check out as well – well worth a visit to the festival’s website.

And look out for AAMI Park stadium – our lights will turn red for the duration of the festival which will be VERY cool…

LightCycle Prizes

July 19th, 2011 by paul

We can unveil the prizes for this year’s LightCycle competition…

Through the generous sponsorship of Eagle Lighting, Erco, ECC and Dean Phillips we have the following prizes:

- An Erco Lucy Table lamp

- A ‘Falling in Love’ table lamp from Tobias Grau

- A planet desk lamp in retro red

In addition to the above we have the Dean Phillips Prize – the winner will enter into negotiations with Melbourne Lighting Designer and Manufacturer Dean Phillips with a view to having your light put into production in their range (imagine how good that will look on your CV).

And a people’s choice award.

Erco Lucy desk lamp

LightCycle sponsors – thank you!

July 18th, 2011 by paul

Thank you to all of our sponsors for LightCycle

We really appreciate the following contributions:

Lightmoves for helping stage the event

Erco, ECC and Eagle for the fabulous prizes

Dean Phillips for making the gorgeous entry kits and sponsoring the Dean Phillips Prize

Osram for giving us 50 very special LED lamps

Moonlighting, SLA, JSB, Light Project, Euroluce and Zumtobel for sponsoring the venue, food, drinks and entertainment for the opening party.

We couldn’t have done it without you, thank you.

We’re lighting designers we’re proud of it

July 15th, 2011 by paul

Architectural lighting design is something of a fledgling profession compared with some of our peers in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, etc.  That’s OK, we accept that.

Many people who enter our profession come from disparate backgrounds – at Electrolight our team comprises designers with backgrounds in architecture, industrial design, theatre and engineering. But we are all now architectural lighting designers now because we have applied this background learning to our craft, have gained additional specific lighting qualifications, obtained peer-reviewed certification and practice our trade on a daily basis.

We’ve noticed a number of our contemporaries of late calling themselves ‘Lighting architects’, ‘Designers that work with light’, ‘Visual planners’. We’ve even come across ‘Brightness arrangers’, for goodness sake!  What’s wrong with calling yourself a lighting designer if you are a lighting designer?  It’s hard enough getting lighting design included as a specialist consultant in project briefs as it is without confusing potential clients further with ambiguous titles.

We’re lighting designers and we’re proud to be called lighting designers.

LightCycle – the Dean Phillips Prize

July 5th, 2011 by paul

Our LightCycle competition has an exciting development – we are stoked to announce the Dean Phillips Prize.

So aside from the fabulous prizes of exotic light fixtures that will go to the winning entries, the Dean Phillips prize-winner will have their entry featured in Dean Phillips’ range (along with the immeasurable kudos that would be associated with that, not to meantion royalties).  Click here for more on Dean Phillips Lighting.


 

LightCycle – just 3 weeks to go

July 3rd, 2011 by paul

There are just 3 weeks in which to enter LightCycle so if you are keen and have not yet entered we want to hear from you.

What’s LightCycle?

LightCycle is a sustainable light fixture design competition.  Entrants are given a new LED light-bulb and are asked to create a light fixture that is beautiful while embodying the principles of environmental sustainability.  Entries will form an exhibition as part of the 2011 State of Design festival - Australia’s largest design festival.  Not only that, selected entries may go on permanent display for the fantastic good cause which is our venue partner Donkey Wheel House.

As usual, there will be fantastic prizes to be won, there will be a great big opening night party and money-can’t-buy kudos on your CV if you are amongst the winners.

Check out the entries for LightCycle 2007 and LightCycle 2009 if you are looking for inspiration.

Better get in quick, time is ticking and entries strictly limited to 50.  Good luck!

The Meaning of Light

July 1st, 2011 by paul

The third and final event of our ‘Socialight’ series of events was the Meaning of Light which was held this week at ACMI in Fed Square.

We asked 7 (yes 7) people, whose backgrounds could not have been more different a simple question: “What does light mean to you?”

We heard from leading aboriginal artist and advocate Vicki Couzens about light in the context of dreamtime and her culture generally.

Then Shannon McGrath shared some beautiful images from her portfolio including some never before published new works which were sublime.

Then prolific visual artist Alexander Knox showed us some amazing images and movies of his work which is all about light in all its forms, natural, artificial, direct, reflected.

Monash University’s scientist Dr Tracey Sletten then blew us all away with her research into the effects of blue light on the human circadian system.

Next up was Kirsten Bauer, leader of Aspect Landscape Architecture studio who showed photos that demonstrate a profound appreciation of natural daylight, of shadows and the changes in light over time and the effect of this on landscape.

Marc Pascal showed us the inner workings of his mind as well as his workshop in giving us the back-story behind his wonderful lighting creations.

Finally architect, broadcaster and academic  Stuart Harrison concluded by taking us a whirlwind journey from 2001 A Space Odyssey, to houses from the Northern Territory to the south of New Zealand via Tron.

It one one of those magical nights where each and every one of the speakers were wonderful, their content extraordinary. The audience realised how special it was and was suitably engaged and appreciative.  Makes me smile to think of it; was certainly worth the effort to organise.

Shannon McGrath finds Nirvana

Electrolight projects amongst the awards

June 27th, 2011 by paul

I had the pleasure on Friday night of attending the Victorian chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects awards presentation dinner.

AAMI Park pretty much swept the board winning the Victorian Architectural Medal, The William Wardle Award for Public Architecture, the Colorbond Award for Steel in Architecture and the Melbourne Prize.  Our congratulation to Cox Architects and everybody associated with the project.

500 Bourke Street also did very well winning the Commercial Architecture award and the Joseph Reed Award for urban design.  Congratulations to John Wardle Architects.

For us both projects represented considerable technical and aesthetic challenges.  The integration of light in both projects was particularly pleasing and we are delighted to have played a small part in the overall success of each project.

AAMI Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

500 Bourke Street

Ready Steady Light

June 24th, 2011 by paul

We had the most wonderful day yesterday down at Fed Square for Ready Steady Light – a competition organised by Electrolight as part of the Light in Winter festival.

There were 5 teams who were issued with a selection of everyday objects such as an ironing board, bicycle, clothes line, etc and a big box full of lights. Teams were asked to turn the objects into wonderful works of art: 5 unique and brilliant light sculptures.

Our teams were led by architect Antony Di Mase, theatre lighting designer Nicola Andrews, and students Anthony Branson, Jacob Hulsbaek and Melanie Deroon.  The thing in common for all entrants was a love of lighting.

We roped in some helpers for the day: Landon Bannister from Eagle, Karren De’Ath from Lumascape, Andrew Sherrif from Norka and our principal sponsor Tim Lawrence from Philips Lighting.

At midday a briefing was held (the principal instruction being not to damage Paul’s bike) and the teams got busy taping, cable tying, weaving lights into and onto their objects which became unrecognisable in no time flat.

The frenetic activity went on for 4 hours until ‘tools down’ was called.

We all returned to the amazing pyramidal ‘Light Hearts’ structure in Fed Square plaza where the sculptures were hoisted to a prominant position to be judged by eminent local architect James Staughton and Light Hearts creator Bruce Ramus.

The judges job was not an easy one and after much deliberation they handed down their final decisions, which was…

in joint third place – Trolley by Melanie Deroon’s group and Hills Hoist by Jacob Hulsbaek’s group

in second place – Bike Light by Antony Di Mase’s group

and our winners, in joint first place were V is for Virtue (the step ladder) by Nicola Andrews’ group and Anthony Branson’s amazing ironing board.

Our heartfelt thanks to all who took part, gave up their time, provided the everyday objects, the lights, prizes, the encouragement (and of course the wonderful team at Fed Square) to make it all possible.

If you would like to see a full set of photos from the event go to our facebook page

V is for Virtue

Just about the most fun you can have with a clothes line

The beautiful sculptures in all their glory


Fabulous Foyers and Facades

June 16th, 2011 by paul

Last night we kicked off our ‘Socialight’ series of events with Fabulous Foyers and Facades; a tour around some of the notable foyers and facades in Melbourne.

Starting at Fed Square it was a brisk walk from 101 Collins St to Regent Theatre to Royal Mail House, 500 Bourke St, 181 William St, 31 Queen Street and then up to the sky deck of Eureka Tower where we looked at the Victorian Arts centre and AAMI Park stadium.

We conducted the tour in 2 groups of 20 and had a great time looking at all the amazing lighting schemes.  Despite the cold, everyone had a great time (although I think many were glad to finally come inside when we reached the Eureka Tower).  The view from the 88th floor sky deck was just amazing!

Royal Mail House - Lighting by Alexander Knox

Paul telling a story at 500 Bourke St

Arts Centre viewed from Eureka