Mildura
→ Like many communities in Australia, the regional city of Mildura faces extreme heat during summers and is looking to build vibrant, safe and thriving night-time economies in retail districts.
In response, we proposed an innovative solution that reimagined what misters and lighting could do in Mildura’s historic Langree Mall. The misters would become interactive and a source of shade, with embedded soundscapes and push buttons to invite families to the , while LED lights would be installed along the entire 200m length of the mall — all of which were networked to each other, transforming the mall into a vibrant, connected and interactive space that was cool during summer and illuminated at night.
Approach →
To achieve this, we proposed six illuminated sculptures at both ends as inviting gateways, leading towards misting shelters in the middle. Along the way, LED edge lighting on five of the mall’s existing shelters would guide people through.
A curated colour palette draws from the Murray River and its surrounding landscape, telling a timeless story of connection between place and nature.
The geometric forms of the misting shelters and upright light sculptures would be inspired by the mall’s pre-existing green canopy structure, while the copper and green colour scheme took heavy inspiration from the nearby banks of the Murray River.
Initial renders of the mister shelters
Initial renders of the upright light sculptures
Experience →
During the day, the light sculpture helps cool down the space by absorbing heat with its mist. Want an extra boost? Push the button to trigger an additional burst of mist and the sounds of local bird species.
Each time the mist is activated, LED lights wipe upwards along the poles, flashing through vibrant colours.
Throughout the day, the lighting stays gentle and ambient, slowly fading between orange, blue, and green.
The lights animate in playful patterns, chasing one another toward the centre of the mall As the mist catches the glow, vibrant colours spread through the air and cast a dreamy, colourful haze that brings Mildura’s night scene to life.
To add a deeper sensory layer, a soundscape incorporating sounds of animals and ambience unique to Mildura plays in the background.
The instrumental soundscape adds a calm, immersive mood to the space. Each time the mister activates, a short melody inspired by Mildura’s musical theme plays, featuring sounds like didgeridoo, rainbow bee-eater calls, and cicadas to reflect the region’s unique character.
The private app made it easy for staff to change the colours of lights throughout the mall, scheduling light shows at certain times of the day, as well as automatically turning the misters on and off as needed.
