May 25, 2016
Officine Brera is a beautiful Italian Restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles designed by (fer) Studio inspired by the Brera Design District in Limano, Italy. We had the opportunity to design the lighting for the impressive space in which warm colors highlight wooden features and unique fixtures invite the eye. Now that it is open, the restaurant is garnering rave reviews right and left but has also been awarded a new honor: it is officially a 2016 AIA LA Restaurant Design Award Finalist!
See the official announcement HERE and make sure the vote for them HERE. It was such a wonderful project to work on, and we were so happy for the opportunity to help bring this fantastic space to life. Congrats to Christopher Mercier at (fer)Studio, and to all who worked on the project.
May 20, 2016
Architectural Digest covered the store opening of one of our most recent finished projects, the Pirch store located in the chic SOHO neighborhood of New York City. “Located on the corner of Lafayette and Broome Streets, the interactive showroom cum test center encompasses three sprawling floors, each outfitted with realistic home vignettes in which a slew of appliances (from trusted manufacturers like Bertazzoni, Miele, La Cornue, Viking, and Thermador) can be tested.” The article goes on to describe a unique VIP opening party in which celebrity guests oversaw the creation of dishes that were created right on the working showroom floor, giving such sparkling reviews as “This is the most fabulous store I have been in, in all my 94 years. It’s so nice that service is coming back. Everything is so gorgeous”(Iris Apfel, designer, businesswoman, and fashion icon).
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May 16, 2016
REI is a unique company that offers a way to get in touch with nature by providing gear and travel opportunities. Working alongside the retail architect, CallisonRTKL, with whom we have collaborated on many projects over the years, the lighting design plan adapted to the new store design guidelines while complementing the modern and rustic aesthetic that the brand is known for. The new lighting utilized controls that can monitor and integrate the lighting levels with natural daylight cohesively in the space.
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April 28, 2016
After a week of climbing ladders and aiming thousands of lights, Saks Fifth Avenue at the Houston Galleria is open to the public! Their official opening event featured exclusive areas such as the Gucci Beauty department (one of only five in North America), cocktails, food by celebrity chef Stefon Rishel, and live music. We were so excited to work with Saks on both the exteriors and interiors in order to renovate the new 198,000 SF space to create the cornerstone of the new “Luxury Wing” of the Houston Galleria, and we are thrilled at the positive feedback we’ve received from them since!
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April 16, 2016
One of our most theatrical projects is finally open to the public, and the reviews are fantastic! Working over the last 3 years with the fantastic team at PGAV Destinations based in St. Louis, we lent our lighting design skills to the “Sea Lions: Under the Boardwalk” feature by creating a warm, inviting, and playful backdrop for the performance. In addition, we had the opportunity to work with Jim Henson Company to create a unique Pre-Show entry area that wonderfully sets the tone by immersing audiences in the world with special effects lighting, animatronic characters, and tons of learning opportunities while they wait to be seated in the main theater. We were so happy to work on such a creative project that places great emphasis on educating about environmental dangers as much as entertaining.
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March 18, 2016
We were happy to have the opportunity to work with Studio One Eleven as the lighting designers on what is much more than just a building face life for The Gallery Food Court on Third Stree Promenade. The 2-story space has been gutted and reinvented as a modern “Market Hall” complete with vintage elements, a new exterior facade, and even 2 living “green” walls on the upper-level outdoor dining patio. High-bay pendants elevate the ceiling plane while trackheads and wallwashers highlight merchandise and decor at eye level; and festoon lights swagged under the trellis create a cozy and whimsical atmosphere after the sun goes down.
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February 26, 2016
A mixed-use project that we are working on with CIM Group and Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects at 11800 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Los Angeles was reported on today in Urbanize.LA. It boasts nearly 40,000 sqf of retail space beneath five stories of residential apartments along with amenities such as a modern pool, community lounges, and a fitness center, a change that the article states “will establish a unique presence along a mostly staid stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard”. For the lighting design of the project, we are playing with some new ideas for the striking facade, creating a retail entrance identity and providing an inviting atmosphere within the residential courtyards.
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January 31, 2016
The Beer Park by Budweiser, located right on the strip and directly under the “Eiffel Tower” of the Paris Las Vegas Casino, celebrated it’s grand opening just in time for Superbowl yesterday, and was covered by Las Vegas Weekly. The article touts the new Beer Garden as having a design that will appeal to both tourists and locals, saying that “the 10,000-square-foot rooftop space actually looks like a park”. With Astro-turf and picnic benches, this restaurant is all about casual, welcoming accessibility; a quality that sets it apart from the rest of the strip dedicated to the glitz and glamour of Vegas.
The party was complete with just-flown-in brews, and a herd of the iconic Budweiser’ Clydesdales to kick of festivities. A big thank you to Gensler for bringing Oculus on as the lighting designers for this festive restaurant! Please read the full article, and enjoy some photos of the opening even, below.
January 6, 2016
We are excited to be working with KoningEizenberg and Combined Properties on this Multi-Use Low rise building located in one of the most dynamic neighborhoods in Los Angeles. West Hollywood really is the perfect home for this structure that will include both retail and residential spaces, thoughtful but subtle use of color, and even features a roof deck. The façade lighting highlights the unique architectural elements and utilizes programmable color-changing components.
Construction should be completed this Fall, so keep a lookout for this exciting project and in the meantime click here for the UrbanizeLA Article!
August 20, 2015
Located in the old Verizon building on 7th Street in Santa Monica, Cassia (French-Southeast Asian fusion bistro) and Esters Wine Shop and Bar opened within a few weeks of each other this summer. Santa Monica food gurus Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan teamed up with their Rustic Canyon and Milo & Olive wine director Kathryn Weil Coker for the wine bar, and collaborated with Spice Table’s Bryan and Kim Ng for a joint effort on the Bistro. The two upscale but sophisticatedly subtle eateries occupy the first floor of the 1937 art deco building on opposite spaces facing the entry lobby.
We designed the lighting in coordination with our friends over at Montalba Architects for Cassia, and with Oonagh Ryan Architects for Esters, both of which were eagerly anticipated and highly praised by food critics as “one of the most important restaurants to open in Santa Monica this year“.
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January 20, 2014
We’re excited to be designing the lighting for a luxury department store. At over 200,000 sft. this is a large space and the challenge is to reduce the vast expanse of lighting in the ceiling to a more human scale. LEDs would be used extensively for reduced maintenance and energy use. A majority of the luminaires will be adjustable, and field ceiling lighting designed in a way to ensure that the product can be highlighted from all directions. High contrast, with merchandise illuminated to much brighter levels than the surroundings, is needed to create a high-end feel. Several days of aiming would definitely be needed!
The exterior will feature an interactive lighting installation, visible from the parking lot and providing character to the building distinct from the mall behind.
See you there in the fall of 2015!
January 17, 2014
We will be working with SMS Architects on the renovation of the Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach, California. The site, which recently has been mostly vacant, has already garnered much interest from restaurants and retail vendors based on the proposed re-design, which will upgrade the Lido Marina Village into a contemporary, upscale shopping and dining center.
December 18, 2013
We are happy to be partnering with Callison again on a new project. This time we will be working together on the renovation of The Westlake Plaza and Center in Thousand Oaks, CA. The ideally located neighborhood plaza has been a key area for lifestyle shopping and dining, and we are excited to update the charming plaza with a fresh look.
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November 1, 2013
We are pleased to announce our association with The Bloc, in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. We will be working closely with The Ratkovich Company (our client on YouTube), Studio One Eleven and EPT Design. Expect some lighting surprises when the project is done!
Here’s a look at the project by blogger Brigham Yen, and on LA Curbed.
August 15, 2013
Excited to work with our friends at Lifescapes on the new The Point development in El Segundo, CA. The 115,000 sft. shopping, dining and lifestyle destination is located at the crossroads of the Rosecrans Avenue and Sepulveda Blvd. in South Bay.
We will be working with the landscape architects to create a comfortable and pleasing shopping and dining experience for the project, while designing a strong nighttime identity.
August 5, 2012
Oculus Light Studio is looking forward to designing the new Fixtures Living showroom at the Glendale Galleria in collaboration with FITCH! See you there in the fall of 2013!
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February 20, 2012
Oculus Light Studio has recently been appointed to design the lighting for new AKA luxury extended hotel in Beverly Hills CA. AKA blends the style and sophistication of a boutique hotel with the space and luxury of a fully appointed condominium. Oculus will be working with Koning Eizenberg in collaboration with Asfour Guzy Architects and Pamela Burton & Company Landscape Architects. The project will update the Crescent Apartments finished in 2006 and feature a newly renovated exterior façade, lobby, business center, fitness center, landscaped terrace, and new penthouse suites.
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