Coqodaq restaurant infuses its dark, opulent dining space with elements of art nouveau and abstracted interpretations of traditional Korean designs, complemented by bespoke furniture and carefully curated lighting.
The communal tables are anchored on one end by wall shelves that have only indirect lighting to illuminate glassware but also provide indirect lighting to the space. The main bar runs the length of the main dining room and carries suspended linear pendants. The series of large glass arches that lead guests through the main dining room provides a general sense of brightness and is supported by recessed downlights to highlight each tabletop. The banquet booths have fixed table lamps and low-level step lights to provide a human scale of glow and lighting that is especially noticed when the room is darker during late-night settings. Dispersed throughout the restaurant are moments of delight and surprise that resonate with Coqodaq’s aspirations to provide a destination that is both elegant and playful.
The use of strong geometric light sources is creatively layered with indirect and diffuse sources of light to ensure that the graphic arches and lines of light do not become sources of glare or discomfort for both restaurant guests and staff. Innovative but simple ways to conceal and integrate utilitarian light fixtures to create seamless glass arches that support the sparkle of the textured glass were achieved through several mockups and testing of different light sources and glass types. The controlled visibility of light sources is always challenging in spaces that can be viewed from multiple directions, and the design worked to address the different sequences of experience when integrating details into the interior design. The wine room is also illuminated in an unconventional way, using suspended strings of glowing lights that mimic the bubbles rising in a champagne glass. This hint of lighting is just enough to see the labels of the wines as you walk past the glass walls of the wine room.
The lighting design provides a variety of experiences for guests from different spaces within the restaurant that are inclusive and adapt to the interior design while giving consistent focus on the dining experience. A concentration of light on food and ambient lighting layers creates contrast and a conservative use of light and energy. The client group also wanted to keep the spaces quite dark, so we did not need to over-light the space and used only LED light sources with a warm color temperature at different levels to provide a consistent experience for all user groups. The lighting control system conserves energy by programming lights to turn on, off, or dim based on the function, such as lunch, early dinner, later dinner, or after-hours settings.
