Prize(s) Winners in Bar and Restaurant Lighting Design
Lighting Design/Product Company Antumbra Lighting EU Limited
Lead Designers Damien McKay
Other Designer's names Hygerta Tufa
Interior Design Company Millimetre Design
Client Private Client
Photo Credits Stevie Campbell Photography
Other Credits Creighan Contracts
Completion Date August 2025
Project Location Malahide, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Entry DescriptionThe lighting design for this oriental restaurant creates a layered, immersive atmosphere that reflects both cultural identity and hospitality function. At reception, discreet trimless downlights provide a warm, glare-free welcome, while concealed linear lighting within ceiling coves guides guests further inside. At the bar, backlit translucent panels and concealed joinery lighting transform the display into a glowing centrepiece, enhancing the richness of the interior materials. Dining booths are illuminated with miniature pinhole downlights, providing intimacy and privacy, while the main dining floor is shaped with subtle contrasts of linear profiles and accent lighting that encourage flow and connection. Dynamic white technology allows the ambience to shift seamlessly from bright, lively tones during the day to warmer, intimate settings in the evening. Outdoors, recessed uplights and compact spotlights extend the design to the landscape, creating continuity between interior and exterior. Every element was integrated with precision to reduce clutter and reinforce the oriental-inspired architecture. The result is a refined, flexible, and cohesive scheme that elevates the guest journey.
Sustainability ApproachSustainability was a central consideration throughout the design. The scheme is a 100% LED solution, with carefully selected low-wattage luminaires delivering high output and excellent colour rendering, reducing energy use while ensuring visual quality. Dynamic white and dimming controls via DALI and Casambi allow precise adjustment of light levels, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption and extending fixture life. Modular fittings were specified for serviceability and longevity, supporting circular economy principles. Where possible, existing infrastructure was reused to minimise waste and embodied carbon. Exterior luminaires were chosen for durability and weather resistance, ensuring extended lifespans and reducing maintenance cycles. This approach delivers a significantly lower operational footprint while achieving the rich, layered ambience essential to hospitality projects.
