Tunnel of light adds interest, and a little drama, in San Diego’s first “agrihood” community space
Fox Point Farms presents itself as San Diego’s first “agrihood” or agricultural neighborhood. It’s a 21-acre mixed-use community and condominium complex centered around a working farm and a network of on-site businesses, including a restaurant, café, brewery, roastery, and market.
Nolen Communities collaborated with Shea Homes to develop the condominiums. In turn, both companies worked with Visual Concepts Lighting to create the lighting package for all residential, commercial, and community spaces.
One of the focal points is the stunning wooden facade that houses the retail center, with the Harvest market on the main floor, and Haven farm-to-table restaurant above. An outdoor pathway extends from the retail center to the adjacent parking lot, and then to the wellness and recreation centers beyond. Framed in a beautiful wooden archway, the concrete walk adds a “wow” factor, particularly at night. PERFORMANCE iN LIGHTING’s INSERT+ ZERO recessed wall step light series, embedded in the wooden beams, contributes to the signature aesthetic.
The Dark Sky compliant INSERT+ ZERO luminaires are installed 18" off the ground and provide illumination down to the pathway. A discreet aperture maximizes visual comfort; a 3000 K color temperature was selected to add warmth and ambiance in the public area. Spaced along the wooden structure, they create a unique pattern on the sidewalk.
“We, of course, wanted task lighting to ensure safe passage through the corridor,” said Kenny Perez Jr., senior project manager at Visual Concepts Lighting. “But we also wanted to create a tunnel of light, and drama! The shadows and darkness between the luminaires are very intentional.”
Because the wooden columns are only 5” wide, the lighting designers were seeking a small, compact, recessed form that would effectively throw some light across the pathway. Perez says the INSERT+ ZERO fixture ticked all the boxes for their specifications. However, it was not until the luminaires arrived on site that they realized they faced a challenge: the luminaires were designed for concrete installations and did not come with a flange.
PERFORMANCE iN LIGHTING responded quickly, creating a custom sleeve into which the luminaire could be inserted before mounting it into the wooden beam. The new bronze flange blends seamlessly with the wood to create the originally intended effect.
While Fox Point Farms, as a community, continues to collect accolades for its unique offering, so too has the lighting. When the project first launched, photos of this public corridor and nighttime scenes circulated through the local architectural community; the space was eventually nominated for an Orchids & Onions Lighting Award, sponsored by the San Diego Architectural Foundation.
“Everyone just loves this project,” Perez Jr. said. “In fact, the owner intentionally brings visitors through the archway to show it off!”
