Mausam, UAE

Project Overview

Mausam is a bold and playful restaurant concept inspired by the sweeping arches and red sandstone tones of Indian architecture. Studio N worked closely with the team at 4Space Design to embed light within the design narrative, using layers of illumination to heighten the impact of the standout architectural features and create a warm, inviting atmosphere throughout the space.

Design Details 

The focal point of the restaurant is a showpiece ceiling that pays homage to the Mughal arches and earthy hues of India’s Red Fort. Comprising multiple interlaced circular forms, the sculptural ceiling features concealed lines of light within the metal rings, designed to add depth and softness to the multilayered surface. The effect is space-enhancing, blurring the boundaries between architecture and lighting design.

The interplay of light and surfaces continues at restaurant level, where indirect lines of illumination add mood and drama to the curved booths that anchor the ceiling. Diffuse lines of light run along the floor, banquette seating and walls, interacting with the decorative latticework to produce atmospheric patterns of light and shadow within each nook.

Throughout the restaurant, varying tones of light were used to emulate the vibrancy of Indian spices. At dining level, a colour temperature of 2700K envelops guests in warmth, while above, a 3000K warm white enhances the detail and tonality of the feature ceiling.

On the terrace, the lighting design is intentionally subtle to preserve the sightlines out across the cityscape. Lines of light were integrated within an ornate walkway framed by a Mughal-inspired arch, transforming a simple circulation route into a pathway of light. Glare-free, low-level fittings were hidden beneath the seating and within the planting, heightening the ambience further while ensuring unobstructed views of the Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai.