From City Sidewalk to Residential Sanctuary: A Conversation with Savino & Miller Design Studio
NEO Architectural Lighting sits down with Barry Miller, Principal of Savino & Miller Design Studio, to discuss the lighting strategy behind La Clara Luxury Condominiums
Successful landscape lighting is often measured by what it doesn’t do. Rather than drawing attention to itself, it quietly reinforces architecture, reveals materials, and shapes how people experience a place after sunset.
NEO Architectural Lighting recently had the opportunity to sit down with Barry Miller, Principal of Savino & Miller Design Studio, to discuss the landscape lighting approach behind La Clara Luxury Condominiums in Palm Beach—a project where lighting plays an essential role in uniting a luxury residential development public easement and the public walkways.
Founded in 1993, Savino & Miller Design Studio is an award-winning multidisciplinary design practice specializing in landscape architecture, architecture, urban design, and master planning. The firm’s work is rooted in creating environments that respond thoughtfully to their context, integrating architecture and landscape to foster meaningful connections between people and place. That philosophy is evident throughout La Clara, where every design decision contributes to a cohesive and enriching human experience.
Designing Beyond the Property Line
Savino & Miller Design Studio was brought onto the project by Stantec, working alongside the project’s design architect, HA Architects, to develop the landscape architecture for La Clara Luxury Condominiums.
One of the defining challenges of the project was the inclusion of a public easement along Flagler Drive. While part of a luxury residential development, the waterfront promenade is open to pedestrians, requiring the landscape to function simultaneously as a public space and an extension of the residence.
“Our goal was to create something simple, contemporary, and elegant,” says Barry Miller, Principal, Savino & Miller Design Studio. He shared that the public easement was meant to feel like a natural extension of the architecture and landscape.
Lighting That Supports the Landscape
From the beginning, the lighting strategy was never intended to create focal points. Instead, it was designed to enhance the architecture, reveal materials, and reinforce the experience of moving through the landscape after dark.
A standout feature is along the seawall, where warm 3000K illumination reflects gently across the river rock below, adding texture and depth without overwhelming the waterfront.
Why the NYX 330
To accomplish that vision, the Team worked with Infinity Architectural Lighting to specify the NYX 330 post top by F-L Lighting. Its foot-candle met strict city walkway requirements and the fixture design was approved by the city.
Its sleek, contemporary silhouette aligned with the architectural language of La Clara. Rather than competing with the surrounding materials and planting, the fixture quietly integrates into the environment, allowing the architecture and waterfront to remain the focus.
For Miller, the fixture’s design made it a natural fit for a project where simplicity and elegance guided every decision.
A Lasting Impression
Reflecting on the completed project, Miller credits quality lighting as an essential contributor to the success of the space.
“We’re happy with the post top lights and proud of how the project came together. It’s been a real success, and the quality of the lighting has made a meaningful contribution to the overall atmosphere and character of the project,” says Miller.
For lighting designers, La Clara demonstrates how thoughtful fixture selection can do more than illuminate a space. It can dissolve the boundary between public and private, creating continuity between architecture, landscape, and the city itself.
At La Clara, the public easement doesn’t feel like an obligation—it feels like an extension of the architecture. And through careful landscape design and understated lighting, it has become a waterfront experience shared equally by residents and the community.