The Iron Fairies

Indonesia

The Iron Fairies: Forging a steampunk fantasy in Bali

The Iron Fairies in Seminyak, Bali, is a bar and lounge that transports visitors into a captivating world of industrial steampunk and dark, enchanting fantasy.

All photos courtesy of photographer Indra Wiras

Staying true to the imaginative concept of designer Ashley Sutton, inspired by his own book trilogy, the venue is a wonderland of custom-made furnishings, mining machinery, and mystical figures. To ensure the lighting could deliver this dramatic, immersive experience, blending darkness, mystery, and enchantment, a robust and flexible Helvar control system was essential.

Crafting an immersive realm

The lighting design acts as a guide and a storyteller, transforming the space and simulating the intense heat of a miner’s forge.
  • The entrance: As guests enter the underground space, a soft, low-level ambient glow introduces them to the mystical realm.
  • The casting rooms: Intimate lighting is incorporated using indirect fixtures, creating a secluded ambiance and highlighting the surrounding brick walls.
  • The miner’s forge: The heart of the experience on the First Floor and Mezzanine is designed to simulate intense heat using dynamic lighting. This is achieved by combining warm colour temperatures (2700K and 2400K) for accent lighting, along with an indirect RGBW setup programmed with warm amber colours.
  • Bringing the fairies to life: Accent lighting is strategically used to accentuate the handmade fairies and mine machinery throughout the venue, giving the figures a sense of life and magic.

 

All photos courtesy of photographer Indra Wiras

Precise control for complex scenes

Delivering the highly detailed and dynamic lighting effects required a sophisticated system capable of managing multiple protocols. The Iron Fairies venue relies on a Helvar control system to achieve the desired dimming levels and pre-set scenes for different situations.

 

All photos courtesy of photographer Indra Wiras

 

A multi-protocol solution

To manage the complex array of fixtures, from standard industrial lighting to custom-made decorative pieces, the Helvar solution expertly integrates various lighting technologies. The implementation of this advanced system was managed by our esteemed partner in Indonesia, PT Hesindo Utama.
  • DALI & DMX: Fixtures across the venue are specified with DALI and DMX, both controlled by the Helvar 920 application controller. This combination provides the high level of individual control and addressability needed for both ambient and dynamic accent lighting.
  • Phase dimming: The system also incorporates phase dimming solutions to manage bespoke decorative lighting elements, allowing for seamless, deep dimming and a complementary soft candlelight effect in the bespoke pendant fixtures.
Helvar was chosen for its robust performance, proven flexibility to adapt to the unique design elements, and ease of maintenance, ensuring the magical atmosphere of The Iron Fairies is consistently maintained for every guest.

Key facts

Project: The Iron Fairies
Project location: Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia
 Interior Design: Ashley Sutton
Helvar Partner: PT Hesindo Utama

 

Indonesia