The Normanby Hotel
– Location: 1 Musgrave Rd, Red Hill QLD 4069
– Client: Ingham – Myers Hotels
– Services Provided: Custom lighting design, fabrication, supply, installation
– Completion Date: 2025
– Architect: Kingslane Architects
– Designer: Kingslane Architects/ Lightcore
Project Overview
The Normanby Hotel renovation sought to rejuvenate one of Brisbane’s most iconic heritage venues with a refined and modern dining atmosphere. Kings Lane Architects engaged our team to help resolve lighting design challenges within the restaurant upgrade — focusing on how to execute a visually complex concept in a clean, buildable, and cost-eMective way.
The original lighting plan proposed 499 individually wired teardrop pendants to form a clustered lighting feature that followed the hotel’s heritage archways. While ambitious, the design posed major practical and installation challenges that required a smarter, more eMicient approach.
Challenge
During early site meetings, we identified several issues with the proposed layout. The ceiling was uneven with segmented beams, making it unsuitable for individually wiring hundreds of pendants. A false ceiling could have solved this but at significant cost, time, and complexity — with estimates over $70,000 and more than a month of installation.
Alternative concepts such as suspended mesh grids were also explored but dismissed due to their visual clutter and lack of refinement. The challenge was clear: deliver the same impact and architectural intent while simplifying the system and installation.
Solution
Our solution centred on Trackcore LC05, our ultra-low-profile (5mm) 24V track system that allows for modular, click-and-play pendants. By switching to a low- voltage track configuration, we removed the need for individual wiring, reduced labour, and achieved a clean architectural finish that blends seamlessly into the blacked-out ceiling.The result was a lighting system that is simple, flexible, and elegant — allowing pendants to be positioned freely and adjusted with ease.
To retain the original design vision, we developed a custom 50x50mm acrylic icicle pendant, designed to deliver a soft, diMused glow and a balanced appearance across the feature arches. After testing multiple concepts, the smaller acrylic form achieved the perfect mix of subtlety and impact.
Reducing the layout to 299 pendants simplified the composition while improving visual balance and cost eMiciency.
The Trackcore system also allowed the addition of LED neon lighting to highlight seating and track-mounted spotlights to accent artwork, providing flexibility and layering across the space.
Products Used
- LC05-SSS-2000: The 5mm Micro Track is designed for the most discreet lighting applications
- LC05-SP40: is a compact and efficient DC24V LED spot light range, ideal for modern commercial and residential applications where precision lighting and minimal footprint are essential
- LC05-LURE-PENDANT: Custom 50x50mm Acrylic Icicle Trackcore Pendants (24V Plug-and-Play)
- GLOPRO Neon Light 1010:The GloPro Neon Light 1010 is a high-quality, flexible, and energy-efficient lighting solution perfect for both indoor and outdoor applications with a IP67 grade
Results and Impact
The completed installation at Normanby Hotel achieves a refined, modern aesthetic that complements the building’s heritage character. By combining modular track technology with custom pendant design, we delivered a clean, eMicient solution that reduced installation time, simplified maintenance, and enhanced visual harmony. The result is a lighting system that embodies simplicity, precision, and performance — perfectly suited to a heritage space reimagined for contemporary dining.
