May 2011 - Illuminating Engineering Society

THE HURRICANE CLUB
Photo: Juan Pablo Lira
In “The Volcano Room,” framing projectors and wall washers light highgloss
red walls and wallpaper inspired by traditional Polynesian tattoos.
A final surprise, bone reliefs in the restrooms are illuminated by MR16
accents.
TREASURE TROVE
As promised by a neon sign advertising “Rum & Shine,” the guest
experience continues downstairs as well. In addition to sampling rum
from a specially designed “water” fountain or getting a shoe shine,
patrons can host parties in “The Bora Bora Black and White Room,”
a private dining room that is designed to be “more subtle, more subdued
than the upstairs rooms” and features darker finishes, notes
Lira. The ambient lighting is also decorative: mounted within decorative
white ceiling coffers, exposed half-chrome incandescent lamps
are a nod to turn-of-the-19 th -century architecture.
The theme even continues in the most unlikely of places—the restrooms
which comprise the sixth experience. Lining the walls, carefully
curated replicas of animal bones create exotic reliefs illuminated
by 50-W MR16 accents (Contrast Lighting). “You don’t know if they
are human or animal bones,” jokes Lira. It’s just one of the restaurant’s
many surprises. ■
METRICS THAT MATTER
The Hurricane Club
Watts per sq ft: 3.1 total; architectural lighting = 2.1;
decorative lighting = 1.0
Lamp Types: 6
Fixture Types: 9 (not including decorative pendants)
THE DESIGNERS
Paul Gregory, Member IES (1983), is founder
and president of Focus Lighting, Inc. in New
York City.
Michael Cummings (right) is one of Focus Lighting’s
principal designers and is also director of
design.
Juan Pablo Lira (bottom) is a senior designer with Focus Lighting in
New York City. Lighting designers Hilary Manners and Stephanie
Daigle also participated in the design for The Hurricane Club. Dan
Nichols was the project manager.
84 May 2011 | LD+A www.ies.org