Prize(s) Honorable Mentions
Lighting Design/Product Company Lighting Design International
Lead Designers Arianna Ghezzi
Other Designer's names Graham Rollins
Interior Design Company TGP International
Client Al Mamlaka
Photo Credits Gavriil Papadiotis
Other Credits Developer- JLL Engineering- Bluehouse Downlights, uplights and spike lights – Lucent Linear lightin
Completion Date September 2023
Project Location Riyadh
Entry DescriptionThe Al Mamlaka is the first restaurant in Riyadh where diners can experience high-quality food from all over the world, under the same roof and it is open for nearly 24 hours each day. The lighting design utilised a layering of light to accent details while playing with colour temperature to bathe the dininghall with an opulent yet intimate feel.
The first attention-grabbing feature is the coffee and cocktails station. This was a significant focal point and needed to look incredible, as it is the first sight guests see when they enter the restaurant.
Linear lighting is installed around the canopy of the coffee counter, which offers a continuous ray of light, creating an impressive and stunning scene.
Plinth-level lighting is introduced alongside lighting at the front of the panelling to the counter. Pendants provide an accent on the backstone while task lights have been added at either side of the counter for baristas to safely carry out their work. All the elements together create a multi-layered canopy.
Each counter has a similar approach in terms of design, with decorative lights around the signages and concealed linear lighting to uplight the menus. Ceramic pendants drop around the counters and in between these, sit mini downlights. While the pendants give a glow, a pool of light shines onto the countertops, so the downlights have been used to provide an additional accent
Sustainability ApproachAl Mamlaka utilised different techniques to consider energy-saving and sustainability. Lighting control is effectively used to dim the various layers of lighting, ensuring that no surface is overlit and allowing lighting to lower in intensity after sunset for further energy savings.
Lighting control is from a centralised system to ensure lighting is not left on during out-of-hours times and is not adjusted or overridden. The scheme strategically placed luminaires over tables and counters with little spill or infill light placing illumination where it is required for a high contrast intimate and energy-saving scheme.
Light fittings were specified for their efficiency and precise optics to ensure high levels of drama and direct illumination while lowering glare and ensuring low energy consumption. Lower levels of illumination were chosen for intimacy rather than usual blanket lighting.
