EST Lighting and Surface Gallery Showroom
Newstead, QLD
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Year
2025
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Status
Built
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Location
Newstead, QLD
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Discipline
Retail
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Expertise
Interiors
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Client
EST Lighting and Surface Gallery
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Photography
Pablo Veiga
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The Local Project
The EST Lighting and Surface Gallery showroom in Brisbane represents a collaborative retail space designed to showcase two distinct brands in a unified, immersive environment, evoking an experiential journey that emphasises the interplay between lighting and materials.
We acknowledge the Turrbal people, the traditional custodians of the land upon which the EST Lighting and Surface Gallery showroom stands. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
"I believe showroom design needs to be about how someone experiences the space and the product that's being sold. Retail is about experiences and it's about being immersed."
Michael Drescher
Director Interiors
The primary challenge involved seamlessly integrating two separate brands without creating competing or conflicting experiences, needing to establish individual brand identities while maintaining a cohesive, collaborative feel throughout the space.
Rather than overwhelming visitors with product displays, the space emphasises the psychology of retail design, incorporating elements of smell, sight, and sound to create an intuitive brand understanding. The philosophy prioritises natural discovery over traditional sales-focused layouts.
The showroom features a deliberately compressed entry moment that gradually opens up as visitors progress through the space. The design team was particularly mindful of not overwhelming visitors immediately upon entry, instead creating a sense of discovery and journey.
The design creates distinct curated zones within the larger space, each offering different experiences and emotions.
The rear island serves as the showroom’s focal point, positioned to demonstrate the harmonious relationship between Surface Gallery’s natural stone and Est Lighting’s suspended lighting fixtures. This area functions as both a product showcase and social hub, representing one of the most successful moments in the space where multiple design elements converge.
Rather than traditional wall-mounted displays, products are thoughtfully installed on premium materials including grand marble and stone surfaces, carefully selected carpeted environments, and custom-designed wall finishes that complement each lighting piece. This approach elevates the product presentation beyond typical showroom standards.
