Project Name: Solar Tree

Practice Name: City of Melbourne

Project Address: Art Play, Birrarung Marr

Demonstrate that a professional lighting design was undertaken for this project? 

The solar tree evolved from a challenge by the Sustainable Living Festival (SLF) to the City of Melbourne to develop an innovative structure that could harness solar energy in a very practical way. The City of Melbourne’s industrial design team responded with the idea of a transportable solar tree. The solar tree was concept was developed by the CoM industrial design team.

What was the main design objective for the lighting scheme?

The solar tree is a demonstration project, developed as part of the Sustainability Festival,that illuminates its surrounds whilst charging smart devices. The solar tree stores energy by day and a photocell turns the lights on at night.

Demonstrate how lighting complements the design of the space by day – enhancing, changing visibility, hiding, revealing?

The solar tree has a timber seat (made from trees that have been removed from the city, due to age) and a charger in its base, inviting users and visitors to sit under the solar panels and charge their smart devices. As a prototype the solar tree is relocatable and it is planned to be installed as part of demonstrating innovation in public space.

Showcase how lighting enhances the use and experience of the space after dark ?

The Solar tree is located in Birrarung Marr and illuminates the granite sand providing warm inviting glow.

Highlight lighting creativity, problem-solving and thinking-outside-the-box. What is unique or innovative about the use of lighting on the project? What unique challenges have been successfully overcome? (1-2 sentences).

The solar tree was designed to demonstrate that solar charging is real and not a gimmick. Utilizing the earth’s energy to do every day things is a future direction. The project explores the opportunity for city infrastructure to play new and multiple roles as the ways we use public space and technology evolve.

How did you take Dark Sky considerations (prevention of lighting pollution) into account for this project? 

The solar tree is full cut off fittings. This is consistent with the City of Melbourne’s public lighting strategy.

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