Header: FotoPerspektif, Ryan Salim
The IronPlate Restaurant, located in South Jakarta, marries the culinary tones of the distinct Franco-Asian cuisine with a conceptual lighting design. The design’s striking aesthetic and sustainable approach to lighting were hard to go unnoticed, earning the studio ERRELUCE the prestigious LIT Lighting Design Awards, making them the new “Bar and Restaurant Lighting Design” accolades.
A burning-hot inspiration
The restaurant was designed in the colour musicians have taken inspiration from for decades. The black on black design, from top to bottom, is enhanced by the thoughtful ceiling lights in bright ambar. ERRELUCE drew inspiration from stark black cast iron that, when heated, takes a vibrant ambar hue. The designers, Ryan Salim and Mitha Audina, played with the concept by mixing several different textures with lighting installations, creating an ambience as dynamic as fire itself.
This unique concept can be especially noticed when walking from the entryway to the dining area. Rough and smooth surfaces, combined with dark-coloured stone, allow the ambar light to play with the space and allow the guests to fully immerse themselves in the experience that is the IronPlate Restaurant. On another hand, this specific theme was chosen not only for its striking visual effect, but also because it creates the perfect stage for IronPlate’s chefs.
Lighting up the experience
The journey starts with a dramatic entrance – as most great shows usually do – marked by mini spotlights arranged in a zig-zag pattern. Monotony gives way to the exploration of franco-asian cuisine, the lighting design enhancing the senses that food cannot.
The central kitchen, where chefs perform their live cooking shows, is illuminated by narrow degree spotlights of 2700K complemented by a CRI of 95 that beautifully highlights the colours of the ingredients and accentuates the knife showcase.
The VIP room and corridor are adorned with a ripple stainless steel ceiling that, illuminated by a dotless LED strip and mini spotlights, creates a water-like effect. This seamless reflection of light perfectly blends into its surroundings, and the effect is the perfect contrast for the hot-tempered concept.
A conscious approach
And because a passion for cuisine means you must have fresh ingredients, caring about the environment was one of the top priorities of the designers. The restaurant uses Dynalite, a re-used lighting control system from the previous owner of the space. Energy efficiency is achieved by utilizing dimming controls to create an authentic and dramatic mood, especially during the live cooking shows, all within the limited capacity of the control system.
The minds behind the design
ERRELUCE, the studio responsible for putting together the show, is committed to a collaborative approach to design, valuing immensely the input from clients, architects, and interior designers. Researching is the first step in the studio’s design process, ensuring a deep understanding of space, materials, and objects. This philosophy results in lighting solutions that enhance aesthetics and foster interaction, perfectly balancing emotion and quality in both architecture and interior design.
