An interior makeover with quirky design details and a new material palette has transformed this Mediterranean restaurant into a visual feast for the eyes – and the lighting design helps bring everything to life.
There are features galore, but let’s start with the ceiling. Dark wooden slats and two installations make looking up a delight. Between the slats sit bespoke can downlights and because of their warm colour temperature, they make the space feel cosy and inviting. And, they’ve been angled towards the tables and bar to form pools of light, making cutlery and glassware sparkle.
For the two undulating ceiling features, LED modules were carefully positioned around the edge of each installation to wash light onto the white moulded surfaces. Both features look like luminaires in their own right and in doing so carve out a strong visual identity for the restaurant.
Mirrors on textured walls are accentuated with a halo glow that captures the eye of passers-by, and custom-made circular lights on timber walls resembling open shells have been used to highlight the texture of the wood. Lighting details continue in the washrooms to create contrast against the dark interior: mirrors radiate light and the back of each cubicle has a wash of cove lighting. The result is definitely dramatic.
Haz is open from breakfast until late so a lighting control system gives the client the flexibility they need to set the right scene for the right time of day.
Images: © James French
— Amruta Haval
