A strategic balance: blending in for maximum impact
In 2019, Rexel Lighting was approached by ITM to be part of its head office redesign. The ITM business had grown significantly over the years and wanted to create a more relevant, modern and open workplace that was more conducive to collaboration. It was also imperative the design didn’t stray too far from the brand’s grassroots of timber yards and muddy gumboots.
The brief
A sleek, minimalist lighting design would accentuate the semi-industrial look of the building. It needed to be refined, not detract from the strong interior design features and provide sufficient working light. A low energy footprint solution was also required and therefore quality fittings were paramount.
The challenges
This project posed several challenges for the Rexel Lighting team:
- Age of building. There were a lot of high ceilings, beams, cable trays and pre-set electrical connections to consider when designing.
- Budget restrictions. Our lighting team was tasked with working to a set budget, as most of the interior had already been designed.
- Design complexity. We were challenged to come up with a better design solution that had form and function, and aesthetically contributed and improved the
overall design.
A lighting design concept thatticked all the boxes
Lighting designer Abhishek Dipak explains how the team worked the project:
“This was one of those projects where we came together as a team to brainstorm solutions for every single challenge, to ensure client requirements were met – and within budget.”
At the core of our design concept, we wanted the lighting design to seamlessly blend and uplift, rather than overpower.
Here’s how we achieved that:
- Smart positioning of lighting – slightly behind desks to reduce shadowing, but still supplying efficient working light
- Extrusions limited the need for more obtrusive, traditional light fixtures.
- Suspended profiles were used to create a modern look and feel without being overly prominent.
- Powder-coated black diffused lights complemented the semi-industrial nature of the building and desig.
The results
ITM CEO Darrin Hughes says Rexel Lighting delivered a great design, with top-notch project-management skills.
“I was able to outlay my concerns with the rudimentary first cut we had received from the interior designers and challenge them to do something better. They were great! We went through a few iterations and a lot of the product had to be manufactured to order, but they managed that process well. And when we needed to make budget compromises, they were extremely agile,” he says.
Winner of Interior Awards Workplace Award 2020
We know light plays an important role in interior design and last year, ITM’s new head office was a category winner at the inaugural Interior Awards – solidifying what a great project this was.
Contributors & Credits
ITM - Client
Abhishek Dipak - Design and Specifications Specialist