Indigenous themes conveyed through illumination at First Nations resort

Whitecap Dakota First Nation Resort

Oct 7, 2021

By Katherine Routhier

Whitecap Dakota First Nation has created a destination resort like no other in Saskatchewan (Canada). Dakota Dunes Resort is a self-funded project showcasing Indigenous themes and creating unique cultural experiences for its visitors and guests. Completed during the height of the pandemic, the 155-room hotel and conference center is the final piece of a hospitality complex that includes a casino and golf course.

aodbt architecture + interior design, in collaboration with LEMAYMICHAUD Architecture Design during the initial phases, worked with the Whitecap Dakota First Nation to design and develop this multi-million-dollar resort hotel. The overall motif explores the Indigenous themes of Fire, Water, Earth, and Air, each of which is represented in a specific area of the hotel.

In the early stages of the project, the intent was to design and produce custom lighting fixtures. However, the pandemic created various challenges concerning availability, so the aodbt team collaborated with Titan Electrical Group Inc. to re-imagine the lighting. Eureka Lighting luminaires were selected for several areas of the hotel.

 

Whitecap Dakota First Nation ResortWater is the theme for the exhibit corridor, which is the main artery between the lobby, conference rooms, and the bar and restaurant. Floor to ceiling windows line one side. In this space, Celeste luminaires are suspended over exhibit cases along the windows, which display Indigenous artifacts and special gift shop items. The clean, minimalist pendant features an elegant artisanal casted glass disc. Light is blended through an internal diffuser, sending warm illumination over the cases below.

“We selected Celeste because of the organic shape of the glass on the fixture and the ability to stagger multi-stack fixtures; this blended seamlessly with the element of water in this corridor,” said Nicole Tiessen, principal at aodbt and lead interior designer for the hotel. “And we staggered single and double luminaires along the corridor to create the illusion of rain coming down.”

Whitecap Dakota First Nation ResortEureka’s Focus luminaire provides ambient lighting along the corridor, installed as pendant and surface mounts along ceiling tracks. The luminaire spotlights decorative features along the hallway while effectively illuminating the floor below. A black finish against a black track and ceiling ensures that it effectively blends into its environment.

Earth themes are illustrated in the restaurant and bar areas. While the restaurant is not a large room, its ceiling is very high. So, lighting was used as an architectural feature to define different zones within the space. Four Alver luminaires are suspended below acoustic bulkheads to illuminate the seating areas. Nine light sources around the 42″ diameter ring provide uplight to the wooden bulkheads and down to the tables. And because of its large scale, the lighting location does not limit the placing or spacing of the furniture.

Whitecap Dakota First Nation ResortThe importance of the cattle industry, and the role of the bison in traditional Indigenous culture, is represented in the restaurant and bar through the color palettes, fabric, and graphics. Designers chose Eureka’s Mute fixture for the bar area because its shape and felt panels subtly represent a basket weaving. Ten oversized pendants are suspended randomly and at different heights across the elevated bar ceiling, bringing down the visual volume of the space. In two neutral colors, the luminaires also complement the textures and colors in the rest of the room.

Whitecap Dakota First Nation Resort

 

 

“Mute’s acoustics properties were an unexpected bonus for us,” said Tiessen. “The luminaires help to control the ambient noise generated from the high ceilings and cement floors but also creates a visual that is soft, layered, and textural.”

Guestroom design reflects the Air theme, with plenty of natural light, patterning in the carpet, and a lighter color palette. From the Nation’s leadership, Chief Bear, a headdress photo has been transformed into a graphic wallpaper behind every room’s headboard. The sacred piece needed to be the focal point. In place of standard table lamps, designers used sleek Scout pendants above each nightstand. With a small 2.75” aperture, the 18” high black pendants are discreet while directing a narrow beam of light over the surface.

The project has been a significant one for the Whitecap Dakota First Nation, bringing significant employment opportunities during construction and now in operations and management. It has generated a good deal of excitement and positive feedback, and the community is incredibly proud of the result.

“Our team was honored to be a part of such an important project for Whitecap Dakota First Nation and to have created something special for the community” Tiessen said. “We are thrilled with how the lighting complements the architecture and supports the Indigenous themes throughout. Each fixture in place adds a lot of interest and depth to our design concept.”

 Whitecap Dakota First Nation Resort

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Name: Dakota Dunes Resort Hotel
Location: Whitecap Dakota Unceded Territory, Saskatchewan, Canada
Architect/Interior Design: aodbt architecture + interior design and LEMAYMICHAUD Architecture Design
Eureka Agent: Titan Electrical Group Inc.
Completed: October 2020
Photographer: king rose visuals

 

Source: https://insights.acuitybrands.com/case-studies-blog/indigenous-themes-conveyed-through-illumination-at-first-nations-resort

 

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • New Podcast Collaboration with Lighting Controls Association and NAILD

    March 24, 2023 The National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors (NAILD) and the Lighting Controls Association have announced a collaboration on a new podcast seeking to raise awareness and expertise in lighting controls. About the Podcast Produced every two weeks for audio listening on popular apps or watching on a dedicated YouTube channel, it is hosted by… Read More…

  • DLC Non-Energy Benefits

    Evaluating the Non-Energy Benefits of Advanced Networked Lighting Controls

    March 24, 2023 The Benefits As energy efficient LED technology has become mainstream, the quantifiable gains from controlling smaller lighting loads may appear to have diminished at first glance. The truth is, while direct energy savings from controls alone represents a smaller portion of savings compared to the savings from LEDs, the use of networked… Read More…


Design

  • Light at Night and the Inequality Gap: Progress and Challenges

    Light at Night and the Inequality Gap: Progress and Challenges

    March 9, 2023 In December 2021, the DLC hosted a webinar that explored issues related to “Bridging the Inequality Gap” in outdoor nighttime lighting. The conversation introduced research on how lighting contributes to discrimination and inequity in underrepresented communities, and generated heightened interest among attendees. To follow up on the research and work presented, the DLC sat… Read More…

  • LIT Design Awards Light Art Project Winner: Integral Group

    LIT Design Awards Light Art Project Winner: Integral Group

    December 19, 2022 Prize(s) Winners in Light Art Project Company Integral Group Lead Designers Ellie Niakan + Catherine Chan Photo Credits Catherine Chan Completion Date December 21, 2021 Project Location New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada Although appearing as solitary, trees are connected to one another through vast underground systems known as mycorrhizal networks. Through these hidden systems—a symbiotic relationship between plants… Read More…


New Products

  • Introducing LED-integrated Wine Rack System from MP Lighting

    Introducing LED-integrated Wine Rack System from MP Lighting

    March 23, 2023 Wine enthusiasts, sommeliers, and casual appreciators alike can all agree: wine is delicate. The naturally occurring chemicals in the wine can be disturbed by many environmental factors, mainly heat, lighting, and vibrations. To aid in the prevention of these factors spoiling the wine, wine racks can be installed. LED-integrated wine rack systems… Read More…

  • Punctuate with Hyphen. New architectural luminaire system by Fluxwerx

    Punctuate with Hyphen. New architectural luminaire system by Fluxwerx

    March 23, 2023 Fluxwerx makes a break from the ordinary with the launch of Hyphen—a family of discrete recessed and surface luminaires to design, define and leave your mark. With Portal, Fluxwerx pushed past conventional downlights and cylinders in our drive to give designers new and differentiated aesthetic options with innovative optics that maximize visual… Read More…