We were asked to create a scheme that both engaged the ... while spotlights within planters create shadows ... water the
The Language of Light by Peter Veale, Firefly Lighting Design
I
s there such a thing as a ‘Language of Light’? We all want our projects to look their best, whether that’s to create an atmosphere of excitement, calm, or something in between. When designing a lighting scheme, we prefer not to hastily choose our favourite lighting concepts or luminaires, but instead draw upon the huge variety of influences available to us, and discuss how they could fit into the overall concept of the space. But how does this concept get translated into the language of light? Here we’ll be looking at how our design studio has drawn on very different influences to achieve amazing lighting schemes for F&B venues that are in harmony with the interior designers’ visions and increase the guests’ enjoyment of the spaces.
Ling Ling Marrakech This restaurant and bar, situated within the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is a fairly new concept from the Hakkasan Group, and is a younger, more lively and less formal relative of the Hakkasan concept. We were asked to create a scheme that both engaged the customer, and sat fittingly within the hotel, with its Moroccan interiors, by Gilles and Boissier. If you’ve ever been to Morocco (or an authenticlooking Moroccan restaurant) you may know that GS Magazine 39
the country is well known for its wonderful decorative light fittings, many using perforated lampshades to project beautiful patterns onto walls and ceilings. Not ones to miss an opportunity like this, we wanted to both pay homage to this tradition, and to produce a contemporary version of the theme. This venue overlooks the lush gardens and pools that surround the main building of the hotel. When standing on the terrace overlooking the wondering views on offer, you can’t but feel inspired by the sense of nature. We therefore decided to use the imagery of the plants and water as projected patterns in the project. The imagery of plants was represented by abstract patterns onto exterior canopies, while spotlights within planters create shadows onto interior ceilings and exterior walls. The water theme is carried to the bar, where moving animated ripples give the space vibrancy. Pivnaya Apteka, Baku Having met designer Henry Chebaane a few years ago, we understood that he likes to design hospitality spaces that very much take the guests on a journey of discovery. He creates unique narratives that inform his design word the very start of the creative process. And thus it was when we worked with him on this new restaurant and bar concept in Baku, Azerbaijan. 40 GS Magazine
The name Pivnaya Apteka means Brewery Pharmacy and the overall concept was that while paying a visit the guests would be offered both the cause and the cure of a hangover. Given this brief, Henry set about creating an interior design that makes the guest question their sobriety. Furniture can be seen defying gravity on the ceiling, and chemical symbols are back-lit with colour-changing lines of light, which of course become more animated as the evening goes on (and more intoxicating liquid is ingested). Infinity mirrors that give endless reflections of sparling LEDs, goblins and chemistry equipment are all accented with light to increase the drama. Even Yoda makes an appearance. Collaborating with Henry and his team was fun to say the least, as every meeting would reveal a new and eccentric part of the design for us to accent with its own layer of light; bringing it out for all to see, and proving that the right lighting can indeed be the icing on the cake, or in this case the froth on the beer. Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounges, Worldwide Multi-discipline designers Studioilse, led by founder Ilse Crawford are well known for creating warm, inviting and homely spaces. GS Magazine 41
space. This also gives the impression that the decorative lights are emitting more light down to food counters, floors and massage tables than they actually are. In the Hong Kong First Class Lounge, a central corridor leads to all other areas. This is the only area with a relatively high level of ambient lighting, created from a customdesigned light box in the ceiling. This dims during the evening, to create a space with more contrast to allow the artwork, pendants lights and tables to stand out more. At the noodle restaurants, the decorative table lamps, cleverly sit on the partition screens that divide the dining tables, are in the ideal location to light the tables. This is a much more efficient method of getting ample light levels where they’re required. To light them from the ceiling would require significantly higheroutput fittings and thus use more energy, simply because of the distance between the ceiling and the tables. Lighting locally in this way is both more efficient and more intimate.
They were asked to provide such a feeling in the newly-designed business and first-class lounges for Cathay Pacific, both at their hub within Hong Kong International Airport, and at other Lounges worldwide. Having analysed the purpose of an airport lounge, they decided to base the experience around the wellbeing of the passengers, creating a relaxing atmosphere in all the many different areas or each lounge. This translated into a warm palette of colours and some very high-quality materials, representing the quality 42 GS Magazine
of the Cathay Pacific brand. As with all hospitality projects, Studioilse proposed a variety of decorative luminaires to help set the mood. Our challenge was to add layers of architectural lighting to complete both the functional aspect and aesthetic to each space without distracting the eye from the decorative fittings. Our solution was a scheme incorporating downlighting from Lucent Lighting (see page 38) designed to give suitable light levels whilst adding the minimum of visual intrusion to the
Zurriola, Hong Kong In this example, a Spanish fine-dining concept designed by Aedas Interiors, our inspiration was fairly straightforward. The entrance to the restaurant, located on the 18th of a ‘vertical shopping mall’ in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui district, is surrounded by a huge bespoke wine fridge. Our brief was to make each bottle look a million dollars. A little research showed us that the label is the best part of a wine bottle that needs to be lit. This led us to specify lighting which does a marvellous job of accenting each and every bottle label at close quarters from within the fridge and thus, an efficient and simple detail was able to turn the fridge into a case of precious merchandise.
Hopefully you’ve been inspired by our experiences seen here, not just by what lighting can achieve, but by the process we employ. After researching all the possible sources of inspiration, then looking into how they can be a part of the brief, we can then translate them into own on language; the language of light.
We are grateful to Peter Veale of Firefly Lighting Design for writing this article for GS Magazine. To find out more about the work and projects of Firefly Lighting you can contact Peter at his London office on +44 (0)20 8746 2991 or visit www.fireflylightingdesign.com
Photography Ling Ling Marrakech - Adrien Daste Cathay Pacific – Firefly Lighting Design Pivnaya Apteka – Michael Koeditz Zurriola – Aedas Interiors HK GS Magazine 43
