BEAU ’ S ART

This page: Dimple mobile bespoke light installation. Opposite page top: bespoke Dusk installation: below: Vine wine rack

AT AN EARLY age, Beau McClellan dreamed of becoming a rock ‘n’ roll star. When he secured a record deal, he found himself responsible, in addition to creating and recording music, for stage lighting, album artwork, stage presence. His father, however, had wisely encouraged him to pursue a career as an artist blacksmith, to have a safety net in place for the future, and that came into play when the recording contract was lost.

Despite the setback in his music career, Beau discovered a new avenue for self-expression, utilising the traditional skills he had acquired as a master artist blacksmith to create contemporary works of art.

Thirty years ago, he purchased a piece of land and a small ruin in the Algarve from friends. He packed up his motorbike, left Scotland, and embarked on a journey to a new life. Here, he focused on crafting gates and railings for the opulent homes in Quinta do Lago, using the proceeds to fund his sculpture projects; at the same time, he was artdirecting commercials for international brands, including Coca-Cola, Nike and Volkswagen.

“The new houses being built here were contemporary and adventurous in style,” he says, “with vast empty spaces begging to be filled. At that time, there was a distinct lack of large, modern chandeliers and the traditional styles simply couldn’t command attention within these expansive voids. That is what sparked an idea within me – to create one-ofa-kind chandeliers specifically designed for this new style of living.”

Illuminating

Despite having no prior knowledge of lighting, Beau was entrusted with his first chandelier commission. Determined to learn as much as he could about the world of lighting, he made the decision to temporarily close his forge and embark on a year-long journey across the globe, attending trade fairs, visiting lighting manufacturers, and immersing himself in the intricacies of lighting design.

It was during this journey of discovery that he came across a German company, Brumberg. And that proved to be a gamechanger. “They introduced me to two revolutionary technologies: LED and straight fiber optics,” he says. “They sent me a small container of all the necessary tools and materials to experiment with, and returning to my studio I embarked on a process of trial and error. Eventually, through sheer determination, I successfully created one of the world’s first LED chandeliers.”

As a result, Brumberg approached Beau to collaborate on designing product ranges for them. Under the brand name of Beau McClellan for Brumberg, he created his inaugural collection, earning four Red Dot awards.

How does it work today?

Beau explains: “When someone expresses interest in having us create a piece for them, I personally travel to wherever they are in the world. I spend time getting to know them on a personal level because crafting an entrance piece for someone’s home is a significant responsibility. It should truly reflect the personality of the individuals and be the first thing that catches their eye when they open the door.

“After my visit, I return to the studio and discuss my findings with my incredibly talented design team – ByBeau would not be what it is without their skill and expertise. Together, we develop the entire project in 3-D and incorporate render concepts to showcase our vision for the client.

“Every project we undertake is unique, although we do offer our clients a selection of modular products that can be combined in various ways to create one-of-a-kind pieces. I take great pride in the fact that they are now regarded as design icons.”

Commissions from official bodies are part of the ByBeau portfolio. Currently, the team is engaged in a sculpture commission for a stunning new contemporary art museum and bespoke hotel in Lisbon, which involves the creation of an interactive piece, incorporating mirror surfaces and innovative technologies to craft a grand kaleidoscope-style installation.

And they are frequently commissioned to design stage sets for fashion and theatrical productions. Their work on the Pronovias stage set for the internally-renowned Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week played a crucial role in the development of Beau’s Dimple collection.

The largest project ByBeau has ever undertaken is ‘Reflective Flow,’ a lighting installation that is recognized in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest chandelier. This endeavor posed an immense challenge, taking over two years to complete.

Another huge challenge was creating the Luza Light Festival, a remarkable endeavor aimed at bringing high-quality culture to the heart of Loulé town and later the city of Faro.

Alongside Ana Fernandes, Beau gathered together some of the world’s most extraordinary lighting talents. One of the most successful installations was their own creation, called ‘Decisions’, which incorporated lighting, mist, and sound. The mist drew people towards the centre of the installation, where they would discover several identical doorways, each leading to a different experience. Visitors were then faced with the decision of which door to walk through – each was connected to a complex algorithm that generated a unique and beautiful soundtrack. It was captivating to witness complete strangers coming together to create various compositions of music.

“It is sad that those in power here have never fully grasped the value of art and culture” says Beau. “Consequently, securing funding for these festivals becomes an immense challenge and a labour of love. We could only accomplish that with the assistance of grants from the tourist board, combined with smaller grants from cultural organisations and numerous favours from our international connections. Without them, it is utterly impossible to create or sustain projects like Luza.”

Home work

A question that has to be asked is what do people get consistently wrong when planning their home lighting. One of the biggest mistakes, Beau observes, is the excessive use of spotlights. “Light should be experienced and the point source should never be visible. People often underestimate the power of lighting controls, which can help create different atmospheres within a space and highlight and transform architectural features. We work here with Helder Martins of Deritec Exclusive who produce the finest our control Lighting.

“Another issue I have noticed, particularly here in Portugal, is the lack of understanding about the role of a lighting designer. Lighting planning is often done by architects, electricians, or shops that simply want to supply lights. But becoming a qualified lighting designer requires years of commitment and a thorough understanding of all aspects of lighting. It is one of the most crucial aspects of any architectural project, but it is unfortunately often treated as an afterthought.

“Every project is unique, and naturally budgets vary. If clients choose to combine our existing product ranges to create something one-of-a-kind, we can provide a reasonably accurate estimate. But typically we require a Design Fee, which will be deducted from the final price. This allows us to allocate studio time specifically for that project. We can then recreate everything in a 3-D format incorporating our concept. This not only gives the client a vision of the final solution, but also helps us determine the physical requirements for production and installation.

“The percentage of the overall construction budget allocated to lighting and control in a luxury home varies, but as a guideline I would recommend around 2.5-6%.

“When there is the requirement for an entrance chandelier or light installation to create a wow effect, I would make a separated budget for this and not include this in the general lighting and control budget.”

Inspired partnerships

Beau works alongside many of the big names here in architecture like Vasco Vieira, Vitor Vilhena, João Rodolfo, Luc Vanstalle, Jutta Hoehn, and Jaime Coutinho. However, with around 80% of ByBeau’s work being outside Portugal – in the rest of Europe, the Middle eas, Asia Pacific and the Americas, he also collaborates with many renowned international architects, such as Foster + Partners, Gensler and ZGF. “One of the most inspiring experiences I had was the opportunity to work with the late Zaha Hadid. Her unique vision and talent left a lasting impression on me,” he recalls.

Being cast in a supporting role – that of the antagonist – in the locally-made film The Right Juice was another unforgettable experience for Beau, working with incredibly artists including Mark Killian, Lucia Moniz, Miguel Damião, and Elilie Chidzey. Beau is also developing his own script, but right now will only share that the renowned Scottish director David Blair and several A-list actors are already involved. Worry not, all will come to light shortly!

Beau’s love of Portugal and all things Portuguese has never diminished over the decades. It was here where he discovered the art of lighting design, here where he has gathered together a fine team of experts, here where he met his beautiful wife, Lucia, and here where they have raised their talented son, Skye. And it is here where he takes time out – little though he has – to relax, kitesurfing whenever possible with his brother. Cooking is another love. “I thoroughly enjoy preparing meals on an open wood flame outdoors, especially when surrounded by friends and the sounds of my son rehearsing his DJ sets. To enhance the experience, I savour a glass of exquisite Portuguese wine.”