Cundall's growing lighting practice has garnered international kudos with the shortlisting of two small-budget projects in the prestigious d[arc] Awards – one of the world’s leading architectural lighting design competitions.

Led by Cundall Light4’s Sydney-based Associate, Bettina Easton, the inspired and thoughtful designs for 99 Mount Street End-of-Trip and the Sydney Harbour Art House both impressed the judges to achieve shortlisting in the 'Places – low budget' category.

The 99 Mount Street project deployed an innovative, energy-efficient and smart lighting approach to help reposition an older CBD office building. The asset owner only had a small budget for upgrades to attract Covid-wary tenants back to the building.

The lighting design was integral to creating a welcoming and safe end-of-trip facility that presents as a premium office building amenity. Light4 also designed and managed the installation of new wayfinding lighting and a seamless, inviting entry experience for the property’s second street-elevation entry and lobby.

The Sydney Harbour Art House is a lighting design for the private residence of passionate art collectors. The Light4 team worked closely with the interior designer to create a lighting system that compliments the art collection of a lifetime, while also enhancing the liveability and sense of place within the home. A clever system of magnetic luminaires allows the owners to easily move the LED feature spotlights when they alter their art displays. A strategy of reflected light and wall-washing illumination gives the home an ambient glow which can be altered to create a variety of scenes via app-enabled smart lighting controls.

Bettina Easton, Head of Light4 in Australia said: “The projects exemplify the Light4 approach of designing lighting that elevates space and creates a compelling and evocative sense of place.

“Budget does not have to be a limiting factor. Creativity, engineering smarts and understanding the qualities of light and how it can enhance the human experience and compliment rather than dominate the surrounding environment is the key.

“Light4 in Australia is only relatively new as an enterprise unit within Cundall. However, the talents in our team have enabled us to achieve tremendous success both for clients and in terms of industry recognition and new project opportunities. The d[arc] Awards shortlisting is an achievement we are extremely proud of, following on from last year’s success with two Australian IES Lighting Design Awards of Excellence for First Sentier Investors fitout and Habit/AT.”

There is also a personal dimension to the 99 Mount Street recognition, as the building is now home to Cundall’s Sydney office.

The d[arc] Awards shortlist is decided by a jury of internationally respected lighting designers. The winners will be decided via a peer-to-peer voting process and announced at an event in London on 31 March 2022.