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 Giuseppe Simone, Hygerta Tufa
Interior Design Company DSLM
Client Claro London
Photo Credits Stevie Campbell Photography
Completion Date December 2024
Project Location London, UK
Entry DescriptionOur client wished for a subtle lighting scheme that provided a comfortable atmosphere acknowledging the existing heritage architecture.
This was their first international venture outside of their Tel Aviv base, we knew that quality lighting would be a key component to promoting their brand.
We focused on accentuating the internal volumes by showcasing the Edwardian plaster moulded ceiling through carefully positioned spotlighting on top of the existing cornice details, suspended pendants in the central ceiling zone to provide visual interest and key focal point for the main dining area. We chose to avoid ceiling clutter and avoid pin spotting of tables, but instead sought to highlight the existing exposed architectural features, such as cast iron columns, window reveals with surface mounted or recessed uplights fitted with anti-glare guards ensuring visual comfort.
The show kitchen lighting needed to be functional and balanced,so as not to over power the soft ambient lighting within the restaurant. We selected tuneable white plaster-in downlights which could be individually controlled to create higher intensity of illumination where needed.
Low level tuneable white strip lighting in furniture and step details anchored the lighting scheme and provided way finding. A Casambi lighting system was chosen for its flexibility and ease of installation within a heritage building
Sustainability ApproachWe chose to employ flexible low energy track spotlighting for flexibility and to reduce the need for multiple wiring points in the Mezzanine floor. This also provided ease of maintenance for the clients and the ability to store products that where only necessary for large scale functions as and when required.
Along with tuneable white strip lighting and downlights for key task zones which could be individually controlled via the Casambi lighting system, with automated astronomical automated settings, again avoiding additional cabling and to provide energy efficiency through the entire restaurant.
As it was a heritage project we had to comply with the existing electrical loadings and not only for lighting but for services, therefore we sought to use as minimal lighting elements as possible.
