Frankie’s Gelato Burleigh: Bringing a One-of-a-Kind “Fish Tank” Skylight to Life

July 27, 2026

When it comes to architectural skylights, every now and then a project comes along that pushes the boundaries of design and craftsmanship. One of our standout projects in 2026 was the custom circular skylight installed at Frankie’s Gelato in Burleigh Heads—a feature designed to create the illusion of looking up through a giant fish tank.

Installed by Energy Concepts in April 2026, this bespoke skylight became one of the centrepieces of the new gelato store, which officially opened its doors in July 2026.

Turning a Creative Vision into Reality

This wasn’t your everyday skylight installation.

The vision was to create an eye-catching architectural feature that would completely transform the customer experience. Rather than a traditional rectangular skylight, the design called for a large circular opening with four custom glass panels sitting overhead, creating the impression of an underwater viewing window.

To bring this concept to life, the custom circular base was expertly manufactured by Redcliffe Skylights, with every measurement tailored specifically to the building and the architect’s design.

From there, the Energy Concepts team carefully installed the skylight system, ensuring every panel aligned perfectly within the custom frame while maintaining the highest standards of waterproofing, structural integrity and finish.

Precision Installation

Before the finished ceiling was installed, the project showcased the impressive timber framework supporting the skylight above. Looking up from inside the building, the circular opening highlighted the engineering involved in creating such a unique feature.

The roof installation required precision, with four large glazed panels meeting neatly at the centre to create a clean, symmetrical finish. Every detail—from the aluminium framing to the weatherproof sealing—was completed with durability and long-term performance in mind.

Despite the complexity of the installation, the finished result appears effortless, allowing natural daylight to flood the space below.

The Finished Result

Once the interior was completed, the transformation was remarkable.

The finished circular recess features soft blue walls, carefully chosen to enhance the illusion of looking up into a giant fish tank. Combined with the four custom glass skylight panels overhead, the colour creates the feeling of being beneath the water’s surface, with natural daylight streaming through and changing throughout the day.

The intersecting structural beams add a striking architectural element while also framing the skylight perfectly. As the sunlight moves across the sky, it creates ever-changing reflections and shadows, bringing the feature to life and making it a standout focal point inside Frankie’s Gelato.

The result is a truly unique customer experience—one that blends creativity, natural light, and expert craftsmanship into a feature that’s as memorable as the gelato itself. From the moment customers walk through the doors, the custom skylight draws their attention upward, delivering the immersive “fish tank” effect the project set out to achieve.

A Project We’re Proud Of

Projects like Frankie’s Gelato demonstrate what’s possible when innovative design meets experienced installation.

Working alongside Redcliffe Skylights, who manufactured the custom circular base, Energy Concepts was proud to deliver a skylight solution unlike anything else. From the initial roof installation through to the stunning finished interior, this project showcases the versatility of custom skylight systems and the impact they can have on commercial spaces.

Whether it’s a standard skylight or a completely bespoke architectural feature, our team enjoys bringing ambitious ideas to life.

If you’re looking to add natural light and create a standout feature for your next commercial or residential project, Energy Concepts has the experience to make it happen.

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