Vineyard Retreat
Nestled between the mountains of Queenstown, the building sits in a remote location, surrounded by expansive views of the hills and valley. The lighting design responds to this setting by creating a relaxed, moody ambience through simple yet carefully considered interventions.
Materiality & Atmosphere
The lighting works in close dialogue with the material palette, revealing timber and raw metals through soft, controlled illumination. Rather than highlighting form alone, it draws out texture and depth, creating a subtle interplay of surface and shadow. This restrained approach avoids visual noise, reinforcing the raw qualities of the architecture while maintaining a calm, cohesive atmosphere.
Design Intent
Our scheme centres on localised lighting including reading lights, table lamps, and portable luminaires, while minimising overhead lighting to create softer, more intimate spaces. This supports moments of retreat, whether in low light or settled into a daybed or sofa. A seamless blend of decorative and architectural lighting reinforces a scheme that feels as simple as the architecture itself.
In key areas such as the living room, we moved away from LED strip and linear lighting, developing a consistent ceiling approach across interior and exterior spaces. This creates a more restrained and cohesive expression, avoiding an overly contemporary or complex feel.
User Control
Basic lighting controls were designed using metal plates with standard rocker switches and rotary dimmers, allowing both children and grandparents to easily operate the lighting without unnecessary complexity. This ensures the system remains intuitive and adaptable to different times of day, seasons, and activities.
“We have used Sam to assist us with lighting calculations and modelling for some of our projects. Sam is extremely professional and always delivers on the timeframes set.”
Richard Thorburn - ECC