Townhouse
Short on time? Go custom.
This set of eighteen surface mounted light fixtures were commissioned as part of a major renovation to the atrium space at Townhouse Detroit. When we were initially approached about the project, the interior designers had selected an off the shelf option, but were running into some challenges.
The fixtures they’d chosen, though lovely, weren’t customizable and therefore the exact scale wasn’t quite right for the space. Additionally, the lamp was designed as a plug-in option rather than hardwired and surface mounted, unsuitable for a commercial application. The restaurant was slated to reopen in just 8 weeks and the lamps wouldn’t arrive on time.
We were excited about the project and wanted to take it on, but were also wary of committing to a timeline that we wouldn’t be able to deliver on. After some consideration we decided to take on the work, but needed to make adjustments to ensure the project’s success.
One key decision was to reduce the number of potential liabilities, the most notable of these being additional vendor’s lead times. This meant identifying the slowest moving parts of the process and getting them underway as soon as possible.
The calcatta viola marble used in the bases had to be sourced and shipped from outside the country before it could be machined into its final dimensions. We made sure to stay in close contact with the suppliers and stone fabricators throughout the process to avoid mistakes and remain on schedule.
Another decision which proved critical was to strategically select off the shelf parts where aesthetically acceptable.By utilizing an off-the-shelf shade rather than commissioning custom glass, we were able to quickly verify the light quality and general assembly method via a shop-built prototype without causing any additional delays to the long lead time components such as the marble bases. Throughout the initial design process, our collaboration with the interior designers was essential to ensure that fixtures we produced, though a departure from the original intent, never felt like a compromise. Where efficiencies could be had we took advantage and where compromise couldn’t be made we honored the design intent and did all we could to ensure the fixtures could be delivered on time.
The final fixtures arrived to Townhouse hours before their grand reopening. By incorporating many of the same materials as the rest of the build out, the lamps are able to compliment their surroundings in a direct way. This wouldn’t have been possible without being designed and manufactured expressly for the space.