Tantalus Estate VineyarD
2018
Tantalus Estate, established in 2013 on 20 acres of vineyard on Waiheke Island, embarked on a transformation journey that kept its gates closed to the public. The winery building underwent a significant renovation led by the collaborative efforts of James Russ Lighting and Cheshire Architects’ Emily Priest. The vision was to craft a luminous spectacle using materials sourced from the vineyard itself. Dried grapevines made their way to James Russ in two shipments, meticulously treated with acrylic sealant, and shaped into 28 distinct forms. Delicate LEDs accentuated the vines' contours, casting a soft glow that enveloped the space in warmth and intimacy. With a blend of natural elements, brass accents, and hand-blown glass spheres, the lighting installation exuded a whimsical charm and intricate beauty.
Beyond illuminating the space, James Russ also lent his expertise to fashioning unique beer taps and towers for the Alibi Brewery, showcasing craftsmanship through hand-carved details created with precision and care.
70-72 Onetangi Rd, Onetangi, Waiheke Island, Auckland.
'Divine Lighting' - An excerpt from Interior Magazine dec-feb 2016-17 - Written by Camille Khouri
Credit for this sparkling effect is due to James Russ and his team who took sketches from Cheshire Architect, Emily Priest and created these remarkable lights using uprooted vines from the estate and more than 4,500 miniature LEDS, handwoven into the vines with exposed copper wire. Despite the organic material, these are very high-tech lights, with LED drivers hidden within the fixtures and high CRI LED bulbs used to ensure the food looks its best. A skeletal structure of solid brass holds the vines together. To make the junctions for these, Epsilon 3D-printed the mould, then investment-cast them, then poured molten brass into the cavities. This meticulous process gave the parts an aged, textured look. When Epsilon ran low on brass, they bought out all the brass taps at local hardware stores and used those. "They were looking at me like I was crazy," says Russ. "Its a real kiwi ingenuity story really, using basic materials to create fine art."
Tantalus Photography by Jeremy Toth
Materials used: Grape vines, Manuka tree, cast brass, brass pipe, handblown glass spheres, miniature LED
““Thank you so much to you and your team for all your efforts. The pieces you have created will be a stand out feature of the venue. Thank you for all your extra hours, late nights, trouble shooting creative genius you and your team have put in. We look forward to you and your team coming to visit your creations for many years to come.” ”