With panoramic views just steps from the Caribbean Sea, Surfsong Villa Resort in the British Virgin Islands is a choice for those looking for a private getaway. As part of its charm, the boutique resort has converted a small patio just outside the reception area into a more functional courtyard. With its ocean views, the outdoor space includes a wooden pavilion ideal for outdoor dining, a rock fire feature, and pathways that lead to the beach. With the help of strategically placed lighting from Auroralight, the space experiences a transformation each night by the ambience it creates.
“The project is nestled between two existing buildings, natural boulders, and an ocean view. Part of the efforts of the remodel were to maximize the site features,” says Annie Lilyblade, the design manager with Blue Ocean, a design group from Colorado that worked on the project at Surfsong.
“One of the focal points of the project is the boulder fire feature. The lighting scheme was created to highlight the landscaping and draw attention to this element,” she explains. “Lighting was also used to highlight the pathways, boulders, and rocky areas that lead to the beach. Tree lights create additional ambiance throughout the property.”
According to Lilyblade, CT Lighting Sales from Denver was the lighting rep company that worked with Blue Ocean and DTJ Design. The lighting engineering was produced by Architectural Engineering Design Group Inc., also out of Denver. “With such a harsh natural environment due to the salt air along the ocean, it was critical that we find a line of luminaires that featured solid brass construction and offered high performance, combined with a warranty because we didn’t want to be replacing the fixtures in a couple of years,” she says. “Auroralight offered everything we were looking for, including the living bronze patina finish and Balinese stylings in the pathlights and bollards we used that complement the design aesthetic we were trying to achieve.”
Mark Stephenson, the director of development at Blue Ocean, oversaw the installation of the fixtures. “We worked closely with Greg White of DTJ Design, the landscape architect firm in Boulder, Colo., for this project to determine what the overall layout would be for the lighting. Our team found the installation was straightforward and so the process went smoothly from start to finish,” he says.
According to Stephenson, the lighting has been well received by everyone. “It’s provided an elegant setting that we couldn’t have created without a line of products like those from Auroralight. We like having the ability to control and fine tune the lighting levels to create the right amount of ambience in the space,” he explains. “At night, the focus is on the light they create and in the daytime, the stylings of the fixtures are pleasing to look at and blend with the landscape.”
Lilyblade adds, “The owners of the resort love how the project turned out. The lighting has assisted to make this space flexible and allows for daytime and evening events. We’ve heard nothing but positive feedback about the use of Auroralight.”