Surface Design Awards – Complete

• LIGHT + SURFACE - INTERIOR 
  The innovative use of light and the way it is inextricably linked to surfaces, whether it’s the effect the light has on the surrounding surfaces or the materials used to create the light. 

Bab Al Shams has long since been an iconic Dubai destination, renowned as a resort rooted in true Arabian hospitality. For the resort’s recent refurbishment, the aim was to provide a much-needed facelift while ensuring the design remained relevant and future-proofed.
Situated in the heart of the desert, Bab Al Shams offers guests a unique experience in a traditional Arabian setting. The resort features stunning architecture, desert views, multiple dining options and a range of activities. The lighting design for this project had to be special, setting the perfect scene for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse themselves in the tranquil beauty of the desert.
Situated in the heart of the desert, Bab Al Shams offers guests a unique experience in a traditional Arabian setting. The resort features stunning architecture, desert views, multiple dining options and a range of activities. The lighting design for this project had to be special, setting the perfect scene for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse themselves in the tranquil beauty of the desert, both preserving the authentic visual heritage and blending this with contemporary Arabic elements.
The combination of culture and modernity was also an important factor in the lighting concept, with lighting design by Studio Lumen integral to curating a warm and relaxed ambience that provides the perfect desert getaway for guests.
The project's aesthetics were carefully aligned with the overall project goal of preserving authenticity to assist in engaging the audience with their surroundings. The carefully chosen colour palettes, layout and artistic elements all worked together seamlessly to contribute to the overall aesthetic experience. Studio Lumen worked closely throughout this project with the core design team of architects, interior designers and landscape architects to achieve the balance required to accent the splendour of the location and to provide the right navigation throughout the meandering resort, all with functionality, flexibility, and energy efficiency at the forefront of our minds.
Patterned decorative lighting combined with fittings that are integrated directly into the interior and landscape details, provide the primary layer of light. Downlights and additional light sources complemented this visual effect adding additional accents highlighting key features. Guestrooms feature a comforting light balance to provide a relaxed ambience, with lighting programmed to ensure the optimum levels for different times of the day and night. The lobby incorporates a blend of zones for different activities, with lighting playing an important role in creating this flow while maintaining a distinct identity for each space.
Lighting is also a key feature of the open-air restaurant Al Hadheerah, with a warm glow of lanterns set to welcome guests and create a serene dining experience. Featuring a modern spa and luxurious amenities sprinkled around an expansive landscaped oasis in the middle of the desert, Bab Al Shams is an elegant yet laidback 5-star resort - the perfect getaway in paradise.
Thanks to the impressive work of Studio Lumen the Resort and Spa is well known for its exceptional lighting design that perfectly complements the Arabian desert setting. The resort utilises a combination of traditional and contemporary lighting elements to create a unique ambience. Warm lighting enhances the desert atmosphere with warm, earthy tones and the landscape lighting pays careful attention to illuminating the natural landscape while ensuring the safety of the guests.

The lighting design at this stunning location is a perfect contextual fit in the sense that it harmonises with its desert surroundings and traditional theme. It enhances the overall guest experience that is both aesthetically pleasing and culturally relevant to the region, creating a strong contextual connection to the surrounding environment and heritage.
The lighting design is used to strategically highlight the architectural details of the resort, showcasing the traditional Arabian design elements of the buildings such as intricate arches, carved woodwork and decorative motifs. The well-placed lighting accentuates these features, allowing guests to appreciate the craftsmanship and cultural aesthetics.
With this project, the devil was in the detail, close collaboration with the ID design team ensured the lighting solutions and equipment were discreet in this space, with effort made to approach and utilise new techniques wherever possible.
The lighting design at Bab Al Shams holds several key responsibilities to ensure the resort's overall success and guest satisfaction. These include creating an ambience that aligns with the rich environment and ensuring safety and navigation around the resort, particularly during the evening and nighttime. Highlighting features and landscapes all while considering cultural relevance and conservation. The lighting not only serves practical purposes it creates a unique and immersive guest experience.
Within the public areas, the lighting is programmed to synchronise with the astronomical clock so that the scenarios are triggered by the sunrise and sunset times across the various seasons. Within the Guestrooms there is conditional programming of the lighting controls to ensure that the guests enjoy the same scene on different light levels during the day and after dark. These light levels are specifically programmed to synchronise with the daylight and night-time conditions, providing seamless transitions.

Given its remote desert location, Bab Al Shams benefits from minimal light pollution, providing Studio Lumen with an excellent opportunity to preserve the night sky. The lighting is tailored to create a soothing and comfortable atmosphere, evoking romance and a tranquil mood.
Conditional Programming of the guestroom lighting controls also ensures that the guests enjoy the same scene on different light levels during the day and after dark. The light levels have been programmed to synchronise with the daylight and night-time conditions perfectly to enhance the setting and guest experience.
Studio Lumen worked closely throughout this project with the core interior design team ID Architects and landscape designers to achieve the balance required to accent the splendour of the location and to provide the right navigation throughout the natural beauty of the desert landscape, creating a seamless blend between the resort and its surroundings. Preserving the darkness along with the light was very important to the external areas of the resort to fit in seamlessly with the context of the surroundings, preserving an authentic experience. The lighting design of this project remains loyal to the avid guests who return time after time, ensuring consistency and the perfect ambience for their favourite getaway.

Lighting design doesn’t just illuminate space, it transforms it into an immersive, dynamic and unforgettable environment. Projects like this set a new standard for proficiency by pushing the boundaries of what lighting can achieve in terms of aesthetics, functionality and emotional impact.
This project wasn’t without its challenges, budget cuts presented the first obstacle during the course of the project and timescales added extra pressure, as the project was fast-tracked to capitalise on the construction capabilities during the off-peak season. Contractors were already excavating on site before the lighting design was even a concept, meaning many of the spaces had lighting design from concept through to site within an incredible two-week period, all driven by design experience and instincts.

Studio Lumen ensured the successful extension of the theme that the operator and the designers had set out to create. The lighting design remains loyal to the avid guests who return time after time, ensuring consistency and the perfect ambience for their favourite getaway.
The project outcome is outstanding, especially given that the achieved results are those of a Value-Engineered option and not those of the original grander scheme. This successful lighting enhancement adds to the upgraded dining experience offered by Al Hadheerah and is the perfect addition to the luxury resort.

The lighting design at Bab Al Shams holds several key responsibilities to ensure the resort's overall success and guest satisfaction. These include creating an ambience that aligns with the rich environment and ensuring safety and navigation around the resort, particularly during the evening and night-time. Highlighting features and landscapes all while considering cultural relevance and conservation. The lighting not only serves practical purposes it creates a unique and immersive guest experience.
Within the public areas, the lighting is programmed to synchronise with the astronomical clock so that the scenarios are triggered by the sunrise and sunset times across the various seasons. Within the Guestrooms there is conditional programming of the lighting controls to ensure that the guests enjoy the same scene on different light levels during the day and after dark. These light levels are specifically programmed to synchronise with the daylight and night-time conditions, providing seamless transitions.
Studio Lumen worked closely with ID and Architects to ensure the decorative lighting achieves the necessary technical requirements. Blending lighting into the architectural details is where our knowledge and expertise were really showcased as Mashrabiya niches were transformed into lanterns and other solutions ensured discreetness was prioritised and maintained, providing optimum consistency for the perfect ambience. Technical attributes for this project were specifically reviewed with the user experience as the key criterion.