Project
St Paul’s Lutheran Church
Site
St Paul’s Lutheran Church
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Architect
LAW Architects
Engineer
BRT Consulting
Builder
Harris HMC
Luminaire Brand
ERCO, Xero Linear Lighting Systems
Casambi Commission Partner
Buckford Illumination
Photography
Adrian Marturano
St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Box Hill South, Melbourne, combines heritage modernist architecture with layered lighting from ERCO and Xero Linear Lighting Systems. Casambi wireless lighting control allows the team to adjust lighting scenes for different occasions.
St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Box Hill South, Melbourne, is used for a range of occasions. From regular services to special celebrations, the lighting needs to adapt while preserving the character of the building.
The congregation moved into the former St James Uniting Church, a heritage-listed modernist building with distinctive timber interiors and original skylights. The renovation, led by Law Architects and the wider project team, brought new life to the building while retaining the architectural details that give it so much character.
Using ERCO and Xero Linear Lighting Systems luminaires, the design brings together ambient, accent and scenic lighting, drawing on Richard Kelly’s Language of Light. General lighting keeps the space comfortable, while more focused light picks out the timber, walls, lectern and other architectural details. These layers give the interior depth and warmth while preserving the calm atmosphere of a place of worship.
The lighting needs to change with the service, too. Different occasions call for different settings, and Casambi wireless lighting control allows the team to recall and adjust lighting scenes as needed. This makes it easier to fine-tune the atmosphere and lighting levels without being tied to one fixed arrangement.
The lighting works alongside the building’s original features, bringing out the warmth of the timber and the details of its modernist architecture while giving the church team greater flexibility in how the space is lit.
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