Ainslie and Monaro Malls

Lead Designers Marci Song

Entry Description

Re-kindling the lost allure of Australia’s ageing suburban retail developments requires extensive architectural changes and architectural lighting rethink inspired by mid-century aesthetics.
This design scheme includes restoring and redeveloping the historic 1963 centre, housing both Ainslie and Monaro Malls, with a new masterplan and newly designed facades, interiors and exterior spaces. Lighting is carefully integrated within both new and existing architectural elements celebrating the new modernist design by Universal Design Studio. Harking back to 1950s and ‘60s lighting influences of simple yet bold shapes, the lighting language of illumination, hidden luminaires within architectural details, and use of metal finishes thread together three main designed environments, connecting Ainslie Mall, Monaro Mall and the flagship Beauty Precinct as a new shopping experience in Canberra.
UDS and SEAM’s collaboration insured that light was integrated into project details that make light inseparable from the architectural aesthetic. Bright and attractive, modern lighting technology showcases textures and quality of surfaces contributing to the overall sense of quality and delight.

Company Description

With commissions in 30 countries, SEAM is an independent architectural lighting design practice led by Marci Song and Emory Smith – each offering 20+ years’ global lighting and architecture experience. As architectural designers who specialise in light, SEAM expertly integrates lighting into the architectural vision and service, having supported Buro: Ole Scheeren, Waugh Thistleton Architects and many others to develop buildings and built environments on five continents. SEAM’s work uniquely brings together lighting, architecture and design, with the creation of memorable human experience.