101 Collins Street

Lead Designers Jess Perry, Dimitrios Tsiokaras

Entry Description

The iconic Melbourne landmark, 101 Collins St, recently underwent a significant Lobby upgrade. Electrolight worked in close collaboration with the architects to create a lighting design that was fresh & welcoming, whilst supportive of existing conditions & the building brand.
Although an impressive space, the lobby was beginning to show its age. Bates Smart were engaged to ‘modernise’ the lobby while retaining as much of its original essence as was practical & desirable. While significant architectural changes were undertaken, much of the ‘heavy lifting’ in the rejuvenation fell to the lighting.
The lighting sought to facilitate a clear path of travel, provide highlights to the lounge, & direct attention to the columns & impressive core wall. We moved away from general wall washing & introduced a skylight effect at the top of the wall which would better express the signature artwork while still providing some soft illumination to the stone, and giving the lobby a fresher and more dynamic feel, as it could change in colour temperature from day to evening.
The lighting concept was driven by a desire to create drama & express the unique architectural elements of the lobby while making the spaces more welcoming & intimate. Opportunities were sought to integrate lighting into the architecture to increase the layering in the space, as well as add highlights to key features.