Movement and Sequence – The Light Practice by Harrison Interiors

Guided by the flow and meditative state of yoga, The Light Practice delivers an experiential yoga studio for movement, introspection and connection. Occupying a former factory building in Melbourne’s south-east, The Light Practice is designed to activate the senses and inspire a feeling of grounded-ness. The client shared Harrison Interiors’s interest in harnessing design as an extension of the yoga practice itself – a driving principle in crafting multisensory touchpoints that heighten the experience from arrival to departure.

Throughout, the warehouse’s lofty volumes are accentuated by exposing the original steel truss structure, while hand-finished cement floors speak to the site’s industrial origins. Leathered granite and shou sugi ban cladding grounds a cafe counter and reception desk in the multi-use entry, and deep turquoise wall panels wrap to form a retail display set within graceful, arched niches.

The main doors to the yoga studio “create an ‘emblem’ that personifies the studio’s brand,” says designer Alisia Harrison. Interlaced steel arcs reflect the balance, symmetry and flow of yoga practice in graphic form, with black and clear reeded glass subtly obscuring movement beyond.

The main doors to the yoga studio “create an ‘emblem’ that personifies the studio’s brand,” says designer Alisia Harrison. Interlaced steel arcs reflect the balance, symmetry and flow of yoga practice in graphic form, with black and clear reeded glass subtly obscuring movement beyond. Inside the studio, a gentle palette of materials facilitates a state of deep relaxation and restoration. Tactile stained plywood and textured limewash are complemented by sheer curtains, softening the perimeter with gentle movement and filtered light. “A halo of light illuminates the existing factory ceiling and trusses, producing a temporal yet profound expression,” reflects Alisia.

A selection of darker finishes lines the treatment rooms and bathrooms, offering an oppositional moment for quiet reflection and nourishment. These balances of colour, form and texture offer directional and behavioural cues as one journeys through The Light Practice, inciting the senses and encouraging a feeling of presence.