Award-winning lighting design consultancy, into lighting, was selected to create the lighting scheme of Japanese restaurant Roka aldwych, London. Having worked with the client previously on Oblix at The Shard, and collaborating successfully on the Roka mayfair site, into lighting worked alongside interior design firm, designLSM and architect Claudio Silvestrin to create a subtle lighting scheme focused on the light effect, rather than the light fittings.
The entrance to Roka aldwych leads to a lounge bar area, before opening out into the main restaurant. In the foyer, a Japanese bath is lit with a single spotlight from above and miniature LED downlights with warm filters graze a textured stone feature wall. The combined effect creates an atmospheric entrance and draws attention to the texture in the interior finishes.
Low-level LED slot lights provide orientation lighting leading to the lounge bar. In this space there is a layered lighting scheme formed of various elements. Discrete rectangular wall lights are made from Travertine stone laminated to clear glass and opal acrylic. Strips of linear LED of a warm 2200k colour temperature have been mounted to the wall plate within for an atmospheric glow through the porous stone.
Feature LED slots to the bar front and an array of miniature LED spotlights to illuminate bottle displays on the back bar create a feature area and a warm ambiance. Bespoke-designed lighting details to the planting boxes in the windows provide a soft glow that is visible from the outside and which, alongside lighting to signage, makes for an inviting exterior to Roka aldwych.
Bespoke wall slots integrated within the oak timber panelling on the walls incorporate concealed linear LEDs. This detail is found both in the lounge bar and in the main restaurant area and provides low-level lighting with a warm colour temperature – again 2200k.
Halogen downlights were favoured by the client in the dining space for a warmer atmospheric light, and to better highlight the food and the many materials and textures that make up the interior design. The downlight arrangement is split into many control groups for a highly flexible lighting system that can be adjusted and dimmed. This enables movement of the seating and tables in the restaurant, as required by the client.
The rear wall bottle display has integrated LED lighting to each shelf, to uplight through the glass jars of Shochu tonics – a Japanese grain spirit. The display stretches the length of the wall and creates a striking lighting feature.
Meanwhile, the central Robata Grill – the heart of the restaurant – has an arrangement of mains dimmable halogen downlights to provide lighting to the eating area, display area and working area.
All linear LED was specified at 2200k and is DMX dimmable for warmth of light and low level dimming. Using carefully light sources of this type also suitably highlights the emphasis on textured natural materials including stone-clad pillars, oak timber panelling, concrete wall panelling and a stone canopy with a green finish sitting above the Robata Grill.
