Our Story
OBS Lighting Consultants began with a simple yet powerful idea: to use lighting to enhance people’s well-being. We’ve always had a love for the night sky and believe that well-designed lighting can transform how we feel in a space. So, we set out to create lighting that doesn’t just illuminate a room, but offers an experience—one that evokes emotion and preserves the beauty of the night.
Our founder’s journey into lighting design came about quite unexpectedly. With a background in architecture, everything changed one evening while walking to the train station. It wasn’t the buildings or anything grand that caught his eye, but the streetlights lining his route. For the first time, he saw architecture in a different light—literally. It was the atmosphere the lighting created that really struck him. That night, he found himself researching lighting design and immediately knew it was his true calling.
That passion grew into a unique design approach, focused on “celebrating darkness.” This vision earned him the Jonathan Speirs Scholarship Fund, a prestigious award that not only recognised his potential but also connected him with Mark Major, an industry leader who became an invaluable mentor. This experience only deepened his belief in the powerful impact lighting can have on spaces and people.
Following the scholarship, he gained valuable experience in practice, where he refined his skills. Then came another pivotal moment—receiving the Silhouette Award, which introduced him to Paulina Villalobos, another brilliant mentor who helped him further develop his approach.
With all this experience, guidance, and a clear vision, OBS Lighting Consultants was established. We’re dedicated to creating thoughtful, human-centred lighting designs, and with every project we take on, we aim to make a meaningful difference.
Our Philosophy
At OBS Lighting Consultants, we believe that by closely observing light in all its subtleties, we can harness its transformative power to enhance human well-being. Natural light, in particular, plays a pivotal role in regulating our mood, productivity, and circadian rhythms, promoting a sense of balance and improving overall health. Our design approach begins with a deep respect for the relationship between light, nature, and the human experience.
We are dedicated to creating lighting solutions that are both beautiful and innovative, designed to inspire and evoke emotion. Our goal is to shape environments that captivate the senses while supporting the well-being of those who inhabit them. Whether we are illuminating public spaces, architectural landmarks, or everyday interiors, we understand that well-conceived lighting can do much more than simply brighten a space. It has the power to turn an ordinary environment into a sanctuary, highlight the architectural grandeur of a building, or create public spaces that are safe, welcoming, and foster meaningful community interactions.
A key aspect of our design philosophy is the celebration of darkness. We believe that darkness holds its own power, offering an opportunity to reconnect with the beauty of the night sky and the world around us. By designing well-lit spaces that embrace the interplay between light and shadow, we can evoke feelings of intimacy and privacy—romantic emotions that are often overlooked but are crucial in creating a deeply meaningful and personal experience.
In our work, we strive to balance the functional needs of a space with the emotional responses it can provoke. This balance allows us to create lighting designs that not only illuminate but also inspire. To us, a well-designed lighting scheme is one that draws people in, offering a sense of connection and comfort, while also celebrating the natural beauty of the night.
Our Inspiration
OBS Lighting Consultants derives its name from a deep source of inspiration: the daily observation of light and its transformative effects on spaces. Light, in all its forms, is a constant source of fascination for us. By observing how it interacts with the world around us, we gain invaluable insights into materiality, patterns, colours, and human reactions. This process of observation informs and inspires every aspect of our design approach.
Natural light is constantly shifting, revealing how materials can change appearance and texture depending on the time of day or the season. Whether it’s the way sunlight enhances the richness of a wooden surface or how shadows create depth on a façade, these subtle details fuel our creativity. We also pay close attention to how artificial light behaves—how it can transform a space, alter its mood, and affect the way people feel within it. This understanding of light’s versatility is what enables us to design spaces that are both functional and emotionally resonant.
Equally important is observing how people respond to light. Human reactions to lighting conditions, whether conscious or unconscious, are crucial in shaping our design philosophy. We are constantly inspired by how light can influence behaviour, whether it’s making a public square feel inviting and safe, or creating a calming, intimate atmosphere in a private space.
At OBS, our inspiration comes from these daily interactions with light. By carefully studying its nuances, we are able to craft designs that not only illuminate but also enrich the spaces they touch, creating environments that resonate with people on a deeper level.