An intimate fine-dining experience defined by moody atmospherics — velvet textures, brass accents, and a dramatic marble bar as the centrepiece.
Noma Dining is theatre in spatial form. The client envisioned a restaurant where the act of dining becomes a sensory journey — from the anticipation of a dimly lit corridor to the revelation of a soaring double-height dining hall. We choreographed a sequence of compression and expansion: low-ceilinged entry passages yield to a voluminous main space where a six-metre marble bar commands attention. Every light fitting was custom-designed to create pools of intimacy within the grander volume.
Every material was selected not just for its visual quality, but for its tactile character and how it ages over time.
- Nero Marquina marble — bar and host station
- Mohair velvet — banquette upholstery in midnight blue
- Antiqued brass — table edges, light fixtures, and door pulls
- Smoked oak — panelling and table tops
- Hand-applied lime wash — ceiling and upper walls
Lighting design drove the entire process. We built a full-scale lighting rig in our studio to test 23 different fixture configurations and dimming curves before finalising the scheme. Menu tastings were held in the mock-up to ensure the light temperature complemented the food presentation. The build phase required after-hours installation to avoid disrupting adjacent businesses.
