26 October 2022

LIGHTING DESIGN FOR RESTAURANTS AND CAFES

LIGHTING DESIGN FOR PUBLIC SPACES: HOW TO DESIGN LIGHTING FOR RESTAURANTS AND CAFES CORRECTLY

Let us tell you details of lighting design projects of the interiors of public spaces. Lighting solution will depend on the typology of the object, and hence its functionality.

Let’s look at lighting design solutions for public spaces such as restaurants and cafes.

LIGHTING DESIGN SOLUTIONS SHOULD BE DESIGNED CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWING TASKS:

1. Accordance to the design and concept
Lighting design solutions for restaurants and cafes must comply with the design solution and concept of the institution, as well as the architectural features of the interior. The room in accordance to the concept, can be filled with light or be intimate and cozy. The approach to lighting designing for such spaces is different.

2. Work with natural light
It is necessary to take into account the amount of natural light in the interior. The room can be filled with sunlight during the day due to the large glazing surface or have no windows at all. It’s important to know which side of the world the windows face, because it affects the distribution of natural light during the day. In each case, the lighting solution will be different.

3. Correspondence to the levels and norms of lighting parameters
It’s necessary to comply with levels of illumination and brightness in functional areas. For example, the bar/serve area and work surfaces require high level of illumination for comfortable and safe work of personnel in these areas. Harsh shadows or low levels of illumination can cause injury if an employee handles sharp objects or glass. Also, the presence of glare from smooth or metallic surfaces can cause visual discomfort, which can cause headaches or visual impairment in the future. Also, guests of the restaurant should be able to see clearly the food and their interlocutors.

4. Color temperature
The choice of color temperature affects the perception of the interior, as well as functional tasks. With the help of warm or cold light, you can create an atmosphere of comfort and warmth or a technological and dynamic image, immerse yourself in the classic style or move into the atmosphere of the future.

5. Color rendering
People evaluate the dish with the eyes before deciding whether the food is tasty or not. If visually it is immediately unattractive, if the shades of food on the plate seem strange and unnatural, then highly likely the visitor will not like it, and scarcely return to this place again. Therefore, the choice in favor of quality luminaires with high color rendering is obvious in restaurants and cafes. Artificial lighting for premium restaurants is a selling tool; it is an investment that contributes to the prosperity of the restaurant.

6. Lighting management system and light scenarios
With the help of lighting management systems, you can create lighting scenarios in the interior, create a feeling of celebration and happiness, set up for active interaction or solitary communication with an interlocutor. For example, lighting with intelligent system can simulate burning candles or logs, twinkling stars, northern lighting, or natural reflections. Changes in the light environment over time – from warm to cool hues, as well as light level adjustment – in an enclosed, windowless space can mimic the dynamics of natural light, thus creating a connection with the surroundings.

7. Colored lighting
The use of colored lighting in restaurants and cafes is appropriate. But this decision must be thoughtful and justified. Lighting control systems provide wide opportunities to play with colored light. A certain color of light can evoke different emotions, emphasize the corporate identity, and concept of the public space, and imitate natural conditions of the environment.

 

The main task of lighting design solutions for recreation and communication places such as restaurants and cafes are to create a special atmosphere where a person feels comfortable and safe. The light environment helps to create an interior you want to return to again and experience special emotions.