Lighting in Design November-December 2015

The clubhouse with western gatehouse to Steyn City on the horizon.

By contrast, the carefully packed brown-grey exterior stone gabion walls, from stone excavated on site and hidden behind trees shrubs and bushes, are gently brought to life at night through soft up lighting.The landscape lighting is kept at a low level in order not to interfere with the land as it rolls out. Nor does glare from the terrace interfere with views onto the 18 th hole and beyond, or disturb the last late golfer. Dimming control was essential to achieve this as the complex, orientated to the West, is sub- jected to extreme daylight changes.The conscious balancing of artificial and natural light is imperative to maintaining an internal ambience that is not given to overly high light contrast, especially in the afternoons and towards sunset.

The lighting concept enhances the complex nestled so-to-say under a mound, almost growing out of the earth, by motivating subtle light from the bottom up that grazes the glass façade supports, casting a soft glow onto the concrete eaves. The glazed façades glow fromwithin, lantern-like, so the glazing disappears and the interiors dissolve onto the terrace.The building is articulated with rhythms and accents of light rather than broad washes. DSGN Interior Designers developed the 'ye old world' interiors with high arches, raw stone walls, varied textures, and a colour palette of earthy tones. The interiors are evocative and inviting, while not impacting too prominently on the night-scape. The interior has the comfort and ambience one would expect from an exclusive club; warm light, changing ambience, dignified and comfortable.

All photographs by Natalie Payne.

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