Gulf Construction Online - Acoulite’s portfolio showcases versatility

Lighting

Acoulite supplied special decorative pendants for Spike Bar.

Acoulite’s portfolio showcases versatility

01 June 2019

Acoulite, a leading lighting and acoustics solutions company in Dubai, UAE, continues to boost its portfolio of turnkey and bespoke lighting and acoustic projects in the Gulf, which include a diverse variety of hospitality, educational, retail, commercial and wellbeing and entertainment developments.

Among the latest projects that the lighting designer and supplier has been involved with are two outlets at the Emirates Golf Club, a nursery and the Majid Al Futtaim Experience Centre, all in Dubai.

The two outlets at Emirates Golf Club are Jones the Grocer, an Australian food emporium, and Spike sports bar and terrace on the club’s upper floor.

Jones the Grocer ... custom copper lights over the counter create a stemware rail.

Jones the Grocer has been designed by LXA, which specifically worked on creating a space that would welcome golfers and residents in the surrounding area. The aesthetic of the restaurant was driven by the need to cater to the versatility of clientele types as well as to transition from a daytime lunch favourite to a night-time hotspot, a spokesman for Acoulite tells Gulf Construction.

Comfort was another key requirement by the brand as well as the franchiser, along with a mix of seating typologies to cater to everyone’s needs.

“Acoulite worked on a lighting brief that was set to achieve an atmosphere that was relaxed, homely and met the style of the brand,” the spokesman says. “To achieve this, we used a mixture of downlights, setting a warm overall tone, with layers of LED strips to highlight levels and retail points. We also designed and manufactured custom copper lights that hang over the counter, creating a stemware rail and a scene perfect for a customer to enjoy and relax.”

The Spike sports bar features interiors that showcase a passion for golfing in keeping with its venue, and a terrace to enjoy views of the course and the verdant surrounds. Visitors are treated to Omega Desert Classic memorabilia as they enter.

Designed by LXA, Spike Bar draws inspiration from its very near surroundings of the lush golf course, using an earthy palette of green, blue and brown.

The overall design concept is dynamic and modern with a touch of vintage luxe. A new bar counter with fixed seating and cruiser tables break up the space into various dining facilities, and the overall area is utilised in such a way as to provide maximum privacy and comfort to its visitors.

For this project, Acoulite worked on the design and supply of the lighting and controls. It supplied special decorative custom-made pendants that were specifically designed for the bar. A number of LED strips and joinery lights around the bar area were used as hidden light to achieve the overall ambiance and set the mood.

“A space should always feel warm and welcoming, thus we had the colour temperature complement and playing well with light and shadow,” the spokesman says.

The Majid Al Futtaim Experience Centre ... lighting scheme in harmony with contemporary interior design.

Ora

Meanwhile, for Ora – the Nursery of the Future, Acoulite worked with Roar design studio and Cambridge Middle East on developing a lighting brief that was in line with the nursery’s futuristic design with a special focus on wellbeing.

The interior design brief was to create a world-class learning experience that instils the habits of innovation and futurism that will stay with children for life. The designers aimed to create an environment that is not only futuristic but also a space that is nurturing, playful, stimulating and social.

With lighting being a crucial aspect for an educational space, its design has focused on helping improve concentration, visual comfort and safety.

“Thus our idea was to have a trimless, flicker- and glare-free lighting which not only favoured the design but also promoted comfort and wellness of the children and staff,” says the Acoulite spokesman.

High-quality lighting fixtures were installed to promote learning and to avoid fatigue and strain to the eyes. Additionally, best use was made of natural lighting, which is proven to have an impact on students’ biological rhythms, and also improves their well-being, their productivity and their ability to focus, he adds.

Experience Centre

The Majid Al Futtaim Experience Centre, located in the Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates, showcases the UAE developer’s new Tilal Al Ghaf residential development.

Acoulite was appointed by INC Group to develop the lighting design for this prestigious project.

The brief was to design a lighting scheme that worked in harmony with the contemporary interior design and furniture, with the use of indirect and joinery work lighting being imperative to creating the right ambiance for visitors to the centre.

The space included interactive areas, model villages, meeting rooms plus a mock-up apartment, with stretch ceiling used to effectively mimic an outdoor terrace area.

Acoulite supplied all the architectural light fittings, lighting control system and provided on site commissioning.