Loake engaged the HI Lighting team after securing a new tenancy in the iconic heritage listed building at 70 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, seeking a lighting concept and design that aligned with the brand’s premium identity. Since 1880, Loake has been renowned for exceptional craftsmanship, blending classic British heritage with modern sophistication. The brief focused on creating a refined, welcoming atmosphere highlighting the luxury footwear collection while supporting an inviting and memorable customer experience.

Lighting Concept & Design

The design phase began with an initial site walkthrough to understand how the store would operate, including the placement of product displays, shelving layouts, and key customer interaction zones. From this foundation, HI Lighting developed a layered lighting concept that ensured the merchandise remained the visual focal point while maintaining a warm and welcoming ambience throughout the space.

Flexibility was a core requirement. Rather than locking the store into a fixed or overly complex solution, the lighting strategy prioritised adaptability, with track lighting selected as the primary element to support Loake’s evolving merchandising and display needs. This approach ensures lighting can be easily repositioned as the store layout changes over time.

Recessed downlights were incorporated to deliver soft, consistent ambient illumination, creating a visually balanced environment that enhances customer comfort while complementing the focused lighting used to highlight key products.

Key Challenges & Achievements

Designing the lighting scheme while the tenancy remained an empty shell presented challenges, particularly as cabinetry and display concepts were still evolving. HI Lighting addressed this by developing a system centred on adaptability rather than rigid placement.

Incorporating track lighting into key display areas ensured the system could evolve with the store layout. As shelving and merchandising changed, the lighting could be adjusted without structural modifications, providing long-term flexibility for the Loake team.

Sustainability was also a central consideration. LED luminaires were used throughout the store to deliver strong illumination and high colour rendering while consuming significantly less energy than traditional lighting technologies. This ensures the store meets retail lighting standards while maintaining a low environmental impact.

Project Outcome

The final lighting design achieves a careful balance between elevated product presentation and customer comfort. The thoughtful combination of flexible track lighting and soft ambient illumination reinforces Loake’s premium brand identity, enhances visual merchandising, and creates an inviting retail atmosphere. 

One of the most successful aspects of the project is how the lighting supports both the products and the overall customer experience. By combining adaptable display lighting with more relaxed illumination in customer areas, the design enhances visual merchandising while ensuring comfort.

HI Lighting’s solution not only supports the store’s current layout but also ensures the lighting system can adapt as Loake’s retail environment continues to evolve, providing a future‑ready foundation for ongoing success.

Project Credits
Loake Australia
WGA
Wildly Illuminating
JFK Automation