Surface Design Awards – Complete

• LIGHT + SURFACE - INTERIOR 
  The innovative use of light and the way it is inextricably linked to surfaces, whether it’s the effect the light has on the surrounding surfaces or the materials used to create the light. 

Nestled in the upmarket DIFC, Chic Nonna is a traditional Italian restaurant, home to great food and an exclusive selection of wine. Creating a lighting design perfect for this traditional Italian-themed restaurant involved blending aesthetics, atmosphere and functionality, evoking the charm of an Italian ‘piazza’ while blending seamlessly a venue for live entertainment and outdoor areas. While the ground floor is reminiscent of grand Italian residential interiors, the first floor hosts an exclusive cigar room and entertaining venue with amazing views of downtown Dubai.
Lighting plays a significant role in creating the balanced blend of grandeur, modernity, and tradition within Chic Nonna.
The open-plan ground floor is zoned into a traditional residential-style bar counter, restaurant space with an outdoor deck, a bustling show kitchen and an exclusive chef’s table. The lighting design aimed to expand on the interior brief and retain the traditional touch of a grand Italian home, while ensuring that zones within the open plan retained their exclusivity for a seamless experience.
The key to the lighting was to identify the elements that transported guests from the bustling DIFC next door to the village in Italy – olive gardens, artworks, accessories, and traditional joinery and moulds. Whilst the architectural lighting subtly accented these elements, the hero of the space is a trio of grand Italian chandeliers that fill the space with its brilliant glow. Cordless table lamps provided the final layer of light on the tables and added that exclusivity.
Home to live entertainment, the first floor has a modern twist with a similar design language as the ground floor. The lighting techniques are subtly tweaked to accommodate the change. A ‘molecular’ glass chandelier spreads its wings over the expansive bar, creating a statement of its own. Architectural lighting subtly complements the entertainment and decorative lighting, set as the backdrop to all the action. The expansive wine cellar is a feature wall that spans over all the floors, creating a connecting backdrop between them.
Different levels and styles of lighting fixtures highlight architectural features and accentuate artwork to set the mood of the different zones in Chic Nonna – ranging from the chef’s table to the cigar rooms to the live music. The lighting design incorporates different lighting combinations to allow for flexibility and fluidity from one location and scene to the next, leaving a lasting impression on guests and encouraging their return.
Studio Lumen's knowledge and expertise played a crucial role in this project, turning lighting design concepts into reality. The lighting design played a pivotal role in ensuring the guest experience was ‘on point’, influencing mood, perception and overall enjoyment for the distinct spaces within an open plan.
With this project, the devil was in the detail, close collaboration with the ID design team ensured the lighting solutions and equipment were discreet in this space, with effort made to approach and utilise new techniques wherever possible.
The lighting in this project not only complements the venue concept but also crafts the perfect lighting ambience to immerse guests. Carefully designed lighting schemes enhance the overall theme while creating a sense of intimacy while dining allowing patrons to appreciate the restaurant décor.
The open-plan ground floor is zoned into a traditional residential-style bar counter, restaurant space with an outdoor deck, a bustling show kitchen and an exclusive chef’s table. The lighting design aimed to expand on the interior brief and retain the traditional touch of a grand Italian home, while ensuring that zones within the open plan retained their exclusivity for a seamless experience.

Every aspect of the lighting design was meticulously planned, from adequate illumination to colour rendering and light distribution through to integration and compliance. Achieving technical excellence in lighting design requires a deep understanding of key lighting principles, materials and technologies as well as close collaboration with other project stakeholders such as architects, engineers and interior designers, something we believe this project truly showcases.
The lighting played a key part in ensuring visual comfort for this project. Lighting controls provided automated variable transition during operational hours and allowed synchronisation for the general ambience even with live entertainment.
To ensure longevity there were several key areas of consideration that required close working relationships with the interior designers and contractors working on the project. The planning stage was crucial to ensure all elements of the project were considered in the finest of detail, such as the quality of materials, future maintenance, energy efficiency, installation, climate considerations, dimming and controls, compliance and more. By implementing strategies surrounding all of these aspects, Studio Lumen has ensured the longevity of this design project.

In this project, the lighting design played a crucial role in ensuring authenticity, especially when creating an atmosphere that reflected so strongly the theme and cultural context. By combining research, collaboration, thoughtful design choices and a commitment to maintaining the essence of the theme and context we took on the responsibility for creating the desired lighting effects to match the vision the interior designers and client envisaged from the very beginning.

One of the biggest challenges is achieving the right balance between functionality and aesthetics. In this project, it involved considering factors such as the purpose of the space, energy efficiency, cost constraints and the desired atmosphere, all while ensuring that the lighting design meets safety, interior design and the client's requirements.
Lighting plays a hugely important role in adding a successful vibrant atmosphere to the venue, really putting it on the map. Studio Lumen successfully executed the extension of the theme that the operator and designers set out to create, establishing a distinct and memorable experience that transports guests to the vibrant
The lighting played a key part in ensuring visual comfort for this project, allowing synchronisation for the general ambience even with live entertainment. Lighting control zoning also established the distinct identity of each zone in a cohesive manner in the open plan layout.

The combination of culture and modernity was an important factor in the lighting concept for this incredible location, with lighting design by Studio Lumen integral to curating settings that evoke emotion and visually appealing spaces. In essence, the lighting for this location wasn’t just about visibility, it was about curating an atmosphere that perfectly complemented the fine dining culinary journey, that fully immerses diners.
At Chic Nonna the past is always in dialogue with the present, striking a harmonious balance between memory and innovation.
The relaxed and cosy ambience of the restaurant was reflected in the lighting design created by Studio Lumen from the very beginning. The soft warm lighting creates a cosy and inviting atmosphere reminiscent of Italian countryside trattorias, setting the mood for the perfect dining experience.
With this project, the devil was in the detail, close collaboration with the ID design team ensured the lighting solutions and equipment were discreet in this space, with effort made to approach and utilise new techniques wherever possible.