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Design for the night.

Creative lighting consultancy for spaces where atmosphere matters after dark.

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01The idea

Most spaces are designed for daylight and merely lit at night.

Chiaroscuro is concerned with what happens after that. We design the atmosphere, mood and experience of a space once natural light has gone — composing light and darkness rather than simply making a room bright.

Atmosphere

How a room feels before anything is understood.

Hierarchy

What is seen first, and what is allowed to recede.

Experience

How a space is moved through once night falls.

02Selected work

A limited selection

The studio presents a limited selection. Much of our residential work remains private, at the request of the clients we design for.

The finished private gallery: a large Vince Kamp painting on the left wall, further framed works beyond, suspended black three circuit track above and a timber floor below.

Vince Kamp Studio

A space where the architecture recedes and the artwork takes control.

The high vaulted interior of Zen with the cherry blossom tree rising through the volume.

Zen

In Progress

Protecting an atmosphere built over almost two decades.

Explore our work
03Approach

A considered process

  1. 01

    Understand

    The space, the architecture and the intent once daylight withdraws.

  2. 02

    Design

    Atmosphere, hierarchy and the composition of light and shadow.

  3. 03

    Realise

    Specification, detailing and close support through delivery.

  4. 04

    Refine

    Commissioning and adjustment on site, after dark.

Our approach
Authority

The thinking extends beyond the project.

Three books, selected essays and talks develop the same ideas tested in the work: atmosphere, hierarchy, behaviour, time and the experience of space after dark.

Explore the thinking

Light reveals. Darkness gives it meaning.

What should your space feel like after dark?

Tell us about the project and where it has reached.

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