Published on: May 25, 2011

Point of View designed the lighting for Saffire resort – an exquisite holiday destination in Tasmania that received IES Award of Excellence in 2010.

Information by Point of View follows :

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Saffire resort is built on the fringe of National Park in remote Tasmania, Australia. The design essence is preservation of darkness.

For this reason there’s no decorative landscape lighting and the interior was vigilantly considered from an exterior perspective; minimal impact on the natural landscape was paramount in all lighting decisions.

Typical of PointOfView’s approach, there was an extraordinary emphasis on integration; light sources are buried in architectural detail and interior design elements so the building acts as a lantern. The effect is a mesmerising experience. Texture, materials and form are revealed without any intrusion of lighting equipment.

Light is judiciously applied with great stress on using as little as possible. Sources are fully shielded, mounted at low level & minimal. Assimilation with the organic architectural form was a vital consideration to minimise visual distraction. The effect is a fine balance between drama & muted impact to the natural landscape.

In the main building the ceiling height spans 5m to 9m. There are no lighting penetrations to disrupt the fluid ceiling shape. Painstaking refinement ensures light fixtures do not distract from the architecture or presence of the space. Key consideration is given to avoiding reflections in glass, so guests can enjoy the fabulous views.

The project includes many custom designed feature lights. Guest decks are illuminated by bespoke lanterns. The light source is heavily shielded; a reflector disperses light to the deck whilst providing a delicate low impact feature to the landscape.

The entire resort is managed via an intelligent control system. Presence detectors are extensively employed to limit waste energy. Elsewhere pre-set dimmed lighting scenes are automated. Exterior guest circulation is lit by just 1w oblique fixtures at 3m centres, activated by movement. Operating in groups of six for 45 second intervals, they provide sufficient light for passage to individual suites, as well as an animated effect.

Credits:
Client: Federal Hotels & Resorts
Architecture: Robert Morris Nunn/Circa Architecture
Interior Design: Chada
Landscape Design: Inspiring Place
Lighting Design: PointOfView
Building Services: Wood & Grieve Engineers
Artists collaboration: Futago & Diffuse
Photography; David Becker, Peter Wood

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