- Bar, Light Sculpture, Floor Inlays: Axolotl
- Lighting Design: Electrolight
- Architect: Bates Smart
- Photography: Rohan Venn
Over the last year Electrolight have been working closely with Bates Smart Architects on the design for the revitalised Pier One Sydney Harbour, the high-end hotel and conference facility located at Walsh Bay in Sydney. Pier One Sydney Harbour is situated on a former real-life pier originally constructed in 1912. The location affords spectacular views over Sydney Harbour.
Electrolight's design for the bar and dining areas features a custom light sculpture inspired by the organic form and movement of the ocean's creatures and the way modern yachts replicate these same movements. The commissioned work, named 'Squelette', was both conceptualised and detailed by the Electrolight team in Sydney. The detailed design was quite a process, with over 300 parts requiring site assembly, with all parts suspended utilising gravity to hold it's form. Specialist fabricator Axolotl were appointed to manufacture the piece and were instrumental in the realisation of the work, affording Electrolight the opportunity to create the machined organic forms in a lightweight brass aesthetic using Axolotl’s proprietary metal coating techniques.
Design Director Donn Salisbury said "It's particularly pleasing to see this project come to fruition. It's not every day you get to work on a project with such a wonderful backdrop as Sydney Harbour. It was the perfect inspiration for our art and provides the ultimate backdrop. Axolotl were key in making this piece true to it's concept, it gave us the ability to materialise our vision."
The Pier One Sydney Harbour fit out also sees the Axolotl Sheet Metal process utilised throughout the bar and entry, with the aged solid brass in-floor signage complementing the overall design aesthetic. The central Autograph bar features a custom aged zinc counter top. Zinc sheets were folded and formed around the counter profile, and treated with a distressed florentine finish to create a strong, solid appearance while utilising metals that are less than 1mm in thickness.
For further information on Axolotl, or to discuss your own unique project requirements please contact Axolotl on 02 9666 1207 or info@axolotl.com.au.