MECCA - Wayfinding Glass Light
Date
for
Project overview
Glass Lighting & Wayfinding – MECCA Flagship Melbourne: A series of cast glass bricks, formed through large-scale ladle casting, were developed as illuminated lighting and wayfinding elements for MECCA’s flagship Melbourne store.
A series of cast glass bricks were developed through a process of direct ladle casting, transferring molten furnace glass into solid, architectural forms. Each piece was poured into a custom-designed mould, with the scale of the bricks requiring multiple iterations to resolve both structural stability and optical clarity. Working at this volume introduced a level of unpredictability, where the movement of the glass became embedded in the final form.
As the molten glass settled, it formed subtle ripples, folds and density shifts—traces of the pouring action held within a rigid geometry. Rather than being refined out, these variations were carried through as part of the finished surface, giving each brick a distinct internal character. The process allowed the material to describe itself, capturing a moment of transition between liquid and solid.
To control the way light moved through the form, each brick was internally sandblasted, softening transparency and creating an even diffusion across the volume. Once illuminated, the pieces read as quiet, glowing blocks. Health-focused affirmations were then signwritten onto the surface, sitting in contrast to the softened interior and allowing the text to remain clear and legible.
Installed within MECCA’s Bourke Street flagship store in Melbourne, the bricks function as both lighting and wayfinding elements within a retail environment. The project was delivered in collaboration with project manager Jordan Rowe. The work was later extended to MECCA Canberra, with a total of 24 pieces produced—demonstrating the application of cast glass fabrication within commercial interiors and architectural contexts.
Selected Products & Classes
.jpg)
Dokola is located on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders both past and present, and recognise and respect their leadership as custodians of this land and as historically important local material innovators and craftpeople.