Studio Y uses optical prisms to create a light-shifting, colourful workplace for Ambience

Australian lighting consultancy Ambience recently appointed Studio Y to create a workspace for its new location in Bundoora, Victoria. The project saw them create a playful and bright office that carefully considered the use of natural light, shadow and colour mixed with artificial light.

Using Ambience’s light-hearted branding and tone, the design is based on optical prisms, which can break light into its constituent spectral colours. "This phenomenon was creatively executed through the use of colour and angular line, visually connecting walls, floors and ceilings," explains Stephen Justice of Studio Y.

There are more intimate zones scattered throughout, defined by bright pastel colours and glazed panels with a dichroic window film. "This layered and compelling design is perceived differently from every direction, allowing visual connections throughout and altering perceptions of depth and range – plus it also had the benefit of looking like a real-life Instagram filter, which the staff and visitors love," adds Stephen.

The workspace is designed to give varied visual stimulation at different times of the day, from mesmerising natural sunlight to mind-bending prism effects to arresting back-lit colour gradients, with colours becoming denser and shadows more dynamic depending on time of day.

Working hand-in-hand with the dichroic film is custom-designed, back-lit and double layered acoustic paneling on the ceiling – this was created to provide mood-calming and smooth illumination and to not clutter or confine the space with suspended fixtures.