Illuminating Excellence at the DeCoster Pool House

Nestled in the picturesque town of Greenwich, CT, the DeCoster Pool House stands as a testament to architectural brilliance and design finesse. This breathtaking marvel, designed by Ridberg & Associates Architects, seamlessly blends into the affluent backdrop of Greenwich, known for its sophistication and charm.

Illuminated with precision and elegance, the DeCoster Pool House is a showcase of cutting-edge lighting design, courtesy of Patdo Light Studio, a premium lighting showroom and consultancy. In collaboration with Ridberg & Associates Architects, Patdo Light Studio utilized advanced lighting technologies to enhance the ambiance of this architectural gem. The lighting design features VERS-OPTICS (05), with a 40° optic for precise beam control, the QOM-eLED+0-10V power supply, SW-HE24/9.0 LED tape and the versatile PIVOT Bracket, creating a captivating glow on the vaulted ceilings and elevating the overall ambiance to new heights.

The journey of lighting up the DeCoster Pool House began with the architect seeking guidance from Patdo Light Studio on how to effectively illuminate the pool area. "We got deep into the nitty-gritty," explains Gary Novasel, co-owner of Patdo, “talking code compliance and tackling maintenance challenges. That's when the idea struck – let's go for cove-mounted uplighting.” This choice not only satisfied code requirements but also provided easy access, well away from the water’s edge.

Gary recalls, "Adrian (Adrian Somm, designer at Patdo) and I were particularly focused on the wooden ceiling paired with those white skylight boxes," explains Gary. "The wooden ceiling added an intriguing layer to our considerations and posed a potential challenge – as we anticipated some loss in reflectivity”. Despite these challenges, using the VERS fixtures allowed them to achieve remarkable lighting results. Even with a single run, the fixtures provided more illumination than the client initially anticipated.

The choice of the Pivot Bracket was a strategic decision, considering its low profile, good adjustability, and cost-effectiveness. As Gary puts it, "We had explored the PIVOT and HINGE brackets and ultimately opted for the PIVOT due to its low-profile design and ease of adjustment. The low-profile design was a key consideration, as maintaining a minimal forward lip on the cove was a top priority." This decision was driven by the desire to align with the architect's vision and achieve a clean, streamlined look for the cove.

The intent was to cross shoot, which goes a long way towards keeping that back vertical surface free of any hot spots," explains Gary. The architects and lighting designers also addressed concerns about potentially seeing reflections of the cove lighting in the skylights above and conducted a thorough line-of-sight analysis to ensure a flawless lighting effect. "Cross shooting played a crucial role in achieving our goals, especially in eliminating hot spots on the back vertical surface," adds Gary. Additionally, the team navigated the challenge of ensuring the lighting was not excessively bright for the residential setting, opting for a single run of VERS instead of the initially proposed two runs. Gary and Adrian praised QTL for their support and knowledge, saying, "We had talked with Jamie and the QTL support team about what we had in mind, and you guys were extremely helpful throughout the entire process.”

The DeCoster Pool House stands as a shining example of the marriage between architectural excellence and innovative lighting design. Through the collaboration of Patdo Light Studio, Ridberg & Associates Architects, and QTL, this project showcases how thoughtful consideration of lighting elements can transform a space into an enchanting visual masterpiece.