PHOTO COURTESY OF NULTY LIGHTING
WHO
My name is Paul Nulty and I’m the Founder of Nulty. We are a global team of lighting designers and creatives who all work closely together to deliver beautiful lighting schemes.
Design Museum London
WHAT
We’re an architectural lighting design consultancy with a healthy selection of awards and diverse roster of clients. We team up with partners in a variety of industries – from hotels and residences to retail, hospitality and light art – to create designs that delight, excite and inspire those who use them.
DIFC, Gate Village, Dubai
Leake Street Tunnel, London
WHEN
I founded the company in 2011 which means we are celebrating our ten-year anniversary this year!
WHERE
We have offices in London, Dubai, Bangkok and Miami and have delivered projects in many exciting locations across the globe.
Keflavík International Airport, Iceland
WHY
I think lighting is an unsung hero because it’s under-estimated yet it’s all around us. It has the power to emotionally connect, which is why I’m so passionate about it. I love people and relationships, especially in business, which is why I love brand and marketing so much and I also love the relationships that people have with a space and that’s why I love the built environment. I knew that there was an opportunity to create a business that could stand apart from all of its competitors and, ultimately, I felt that we could offer people an emotional connection to light and space.
Beauty Hall, Siam Paragon
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE CREATIVITY?
Creativity, in my mind, is about collaboration and people. It’s about free thinking and encouraging even the craziest ideas. You need to embrace and nurture these thoughts and concepts because somewhere amidst the craziness there might be a piece of gold you could work with and turn into something beautiful.
SOM, The Broadgate Tower, London
DESCRIBE YOUR PRACTICE IN THREE WORDS.
Passionately creative, collaboratively pragmatic and innovatively sustainable.
WHERE DO YOU GO, OR WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU GET STUCK ON A PROJECT
I take time away from everyone and give myself space to think. Some of my greatest ideas actually come to me in the shower as I’m seldom interrupted and can just let my mind wonder!
The Ned, London
WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
All of them. I mean it, I think the work that we deliver at Nulty is some of the best out there. If I had to choose though, I especially love the work we did on The Ned. It’s an amazing hotel in the heart of the City of London and I felt very privileged to be a part of the team. It’s a Grade I listed building and the lavish beauty of that architecture will stand now for generations to come. Sometimes projects aren’t just about the project – they’re about the history and I felt very much like I was one of the guardians preserving that history. I’m very proud of that.
The Connaught Pâtisserie, London
BIBÉ Rooftop Bar and Lounge, Dubai
IF YOU COULD INVITE ANY CREATIVE OUT FOR COFFEE, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
It would have to be James Turrell because he thinks about light in a different way. He is phenomenally inspiring and passionate and I admire his dedication. He uses light to emotionally connect with people and their environment which I find very impressive. I would love to pick his brains!