Situated off the main concourse in Terminal 1, the new lounge was envisaged by Hong Kong based practice Studio 5 International, who embedded elemental forces from nature into the design to create a transportive experience. Nulty’s lighting scheme is an intrinsic part of the narrative and helps to reveal the creativity and storytelling that runs throughout the scheme, produced in response to the rhythms of daylight.
Upon entering the reception, guests are greeted by a bespoke installation that depicts the shape and movement of a wave. Designed to invite a sense of discovery, the piece flows over the welcome desk to merge with a twin feature in the bar. Cove lighting was used to accent the unique form of each piece and highlight the fluctuating layers and angles of the design. The rest of the lighting in the reception is purposely enhancing. Light was washed onto the reception desk and walls to add warmth to the earthy stone surfaces, while a backlit sign forms an ethereal wayfinding point for those entering the lounge.
The recurring wave motif continues in the casual seating area, where curved architectural lines reference the fluidity of the ocean. Here, light was concealed along the arc of each wave to provide a layer of ambient light that emphasises both the contours of the architecture and watery hues of the tonal palette.
As the main area of the lounge includes space to work, discreet downlights were positioned in the ceiling to provide functional illumination above the productive work zones. The space also features a discrete office pod, elevated to a distinctive focal point due to its backlit perforated surface.
The soothing colourways of the work zone give way to a bold injection of yellow in the dining area, where a bespoke lighting installation recreates the energizing moment when sunlight breaks through the clouds. Floating above the food station, the spectacular piece is illuminated by linear profiles, positioned in the ceiling to radiate light onto the yellow fabric and capture the vitality of crepuscular rays. The scene is further enhanced by a trio of decorative stone windows along the wall, each framed with a soft halo of light.
As the design language in the relaxation area emulates the warm glow of a fireplace, every aspect of the lighting was crafted to echo the emotional comfort associated with a flickering flame. Downlights and diffused cove lighting bounce light onto the vivid green and blue surfaces, creating a soft, cocooning atmosphere. At a lower level, decorative luminaires evoke a feeling of intimacy, and a showpiece planting wall, illuminated from above by a concealed line of light, adds an unexpected touch of theatre.
Images courtesy of Kyra Lounge
Interior design: Studio 5
Lighting design: Nulty
