Published on: August 30, 2009

Focus Lighting sent this interesting project. Canyon Ranch is a hotel, a spa and a residence designed by Rockwell group. It is situated in Miami Beach, Florida.

More from Focus Lighting follows:

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Lobby:
Backlit Columns in the lobby are 20 ft high, four-sided backlit slabs of onyx. They are a grand and glowing element using Neo-tech fixtures (cold cathode lamp attached to a 2 x 2 extrusive with an integral transformer). At the top of the columns, ventilation is provided by two layers of perforated metal sheets offset to shield light and still allow air to flow. This system of ventilation, without an unattractive view into column’s interior, particularly aids the view of the columns from the floors above which overlook the lobby.

The original lighting design for the lobby columns called for i-light strip fixtures, but Focus Lighting’s adjustment helps create a softer and more even light to help the natural materials achieve brilliance.

Restaurant:
A hanging wall of natural components, bi-sections of stones, and carved wooden pieces are uplit to highlight the intricate textures and vibrant colors of the materials.

By the bar a series of “wormy wood” columns have a perforated texture allowing light to penetrate through the screen and subtly cast a light on the patrons in the space. The panels are backlit by color changing LEDs. These LEDs do not consistently rotate color, but are programmable in order to adjust a static color depending on a special events or conditions.

Fitness Barge:
The fitness room (also referred to as the “fitness barge”) has glorious ceiling panels made of stretched white fabric uplit with MR16s. The original design called for backlighting of this paneling, but by up-lighting it instead, we were better able to accentuate the form and texture of the panels.

White Eventscape columns are another great addition to this room, adding vertical lines that make the space look larger.

Spa:
The spa areas are simple, clean, and modern. The refined use of white lights within wall niches and in recessed ceiling slots, help complete the sleek interior. A fiber optic ceiling over one area of the spa creates small points of light to mimic a starry sky and provide a tranquil natural effect.

Port Cochere:
At the end of a long driveway at the entryway to the residential section of Canyon Ranch, outdoor planters are fitted with warm white LEDs. The potted dune grasses look rustic with light  highlighting their rugged height and texture. The light from these planters also bathes the underside roof of the port cochere. This warm glow is an alluring component that draws arriving guests inside.

Residence:
In the residential area of the building, large glass walls line the walkway from the floor to the ceiling and have a ginkgo leaf pattern embedded in glass. Lit from inside of the adjacent rooms, the effect from the walkway on the other side of the wall is a pattern of leaf shadows across the ground.

Outdoor Yoga Studio:
Dance studio type wall with full length mirrors, above the mirror wall is a one foot band of backlit acrylic panels. The acrylic paneling is backlit with color-changing LEDs and fades through a programmed series of sunrise and sunset tones. A mix of incandescent light strips with ColorKinetics light strips, allow for pale tones of color. A wrought iron gate divides the studio from the ocean shore, providing an ornate reflection in the mirror wall of the intricate details of the gate and the expansive ocean beyond.

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