Retail design often reduces products to objects on display. This project repositions them as part of an experience. DKO’s design for the EST Lighting and Surface Gallery showroom in Newstead, Brisbane, reframes the showroom as an immersive environment shaped by light, material and perception.

A compressed entry heightens anticipation before the space opens into a sequence of curated zones. Visitors move through moments of discovery guided by light, texture and atmosphere. Each zone offers a distinct mood, allowing products to be experienced in context rather than in isolation.

Two distinct brands are brought together without competition. Lighting and surface materials are positioned in dialogue, with space between elements allowing each to perform. Warm pendants illuminate stone, ambient light reveals texture, and shifts in material and flooring reinforce each transition.

At the centre, a sculptural stone island anchors the showroom, pairing natural surfaces with suspended lighting to demonstrate their combined effect. This focal point operates as both display and social hub.

The result is a showroom that replaces selection with experience, enabling deeper understanding, stronger connection and more informed design decisions.

Photography: Pablo Veiga