A Study Of Light — Est Lighting Showroom By Christopher Elliott Design

Inspired by the interaction between light and the curved surface, Est Lighting’s Melbourne showroom, designed by Christopher Elliott Design, is a celebration of both light and the local design community.

Founded in 2016 by a trio of impassioned lighting specialists (Ted Smyth, Sevan Mirzaian and James Zagari), Est Lighting is the result of their years of industry experience and shared appreciation for contemporary architectural and decorative lighting. Following the success of their Sydney showroom, Est Lighting has a new home in Melbourne. Designed with Christopher Elliot Design, the Melbourne showroom is a celebration of the effect of light within space.

Having previously worked together with Ted and Sevan, Est Lighting co-founding director, who also heads up the Melbourne team, James Zagari says, “we all worked tirelessly to curate the right mix of local and international light manufacturers, proudly representing some of the world’s leading international lighting manufacturers, including XAL from Austria and Gabriel Scott from Montreal.” A sense of locality and connection is at the core of the business. Ted, who along with Sevan, heads the Sydney showroom, explains “working with local designers also provides our client base with a real sense of connection with the product.” He adds, “Est Lighting leads in supporting local designers. A quarter of our representation is Australian design, including three of Australia’s leading lighting designers: Christopher Boots, Articolo and Lost Profile.”

Founded in 2016 by a trio of impassioned lighting specialists (Ted Smyth, Sevan Mirzaian and James Zagari), Est Lighting is the result of their years of industry experience and shared appreciation for contemporary architectural and decorative lighting.

Responding to the contemporary design landscape, Est Lighting worked with Christopher Elliott Design to articulate the Melbourne showroom architecturally. James says, “the design of the showroom has brought together a space to showcase our brands and a place to entertain – they work harmoniously together through an approach that is considered yet laid-back.” Christopher Elliott explains, “the finishes are contemporary, and the colour palette is inspired by the past. The result captures the bold steps that a designer and client are willing to take to create something that is unique and provoking.” In carving out the unique identify of the space, Christopher reflects, “there is a real consideration to detail that is now synonymous with Australian design, particularly in the bar design where we see an interplay of vertical timber slats set against terrazzo and marble benchtops.”

Located in Melbourne’s inner-urban design hub of Richmond, the showroom sits alongside other lighting, furniture and design showrooms, tucked into the tightly woven fabric of the area. James says, “it took some time to find the right site that would warrant being the ideal destination trade showroom” – a place that both inspires and surprises each visitor. A previously vacant saw-tooth roof warehouse, the building provided challenges but most importantly the freedom for Christopher Elliott and his team to push their creative thinking.

“We all worked tirelessly to curate the right mix of local and international light manufacturers, proudly representing some of the world’s leading international lighting manufacturers, including XAL from Austria and Gabriel Scott from Montreal.”

A combination of blush, nude and contrasting rich blue and burgundy tones form the palette of the space, that is defined and framed by black metal, timber and stone details. “A source of inspiration came from our design team witnessing the way light integrated with curved spaces, which became the foundation for the design,” Christopher recalls. “These elements highlighted the way light and shadows reacted against this uneven surface, where they juxtapose with the industrial elements as a key part of the design narrative.” Although a bold and daring statement, the showroom is a generous complement to its featured lighting pieces.

While the showroom is a showcase of both product and local design, it is also a space for collaboration. James says, “our Sydney and Melbourne showrooms are the heart of Est Lighting. Not only a space to work, these spaces provide the platform to collaborate with designers, architects and engineers, and they also serve as a centre for celebrations, industry events and bringing the industry together.” With the Est Lighting team coming from a melting pot of backgrounds – from technical lighting to interior architecture and design – and the brand’s emphasis on industry engagement and collaboration, a space of significant size to host events that support and celebrate local design was essential.

Representing a coming together of brands, aesthetics and disciplines, the Est Lighting Melbourne showroom successfully acts as a conduit for the practice of design and for connection amongst the architectural and design community. Above all, the new showroom is a celebration of Est’s true passion, light.

“A source of inspiration came from our design team witnessing the way light integrated with curved spaces, which became the foundation for the design.”

Est Lighting leads in supporting local designers. A quarter of our representation is Australian design, including three of Australia’s leading lighting designers: Christopher Boots, Articolo and Lost Profile,” says Ted.