Umami Restaurant, Copenhagen, Denmark

Monday, June 18, 2007 || Martin Professional

Copenhagen-based restaurateur Jesper Boelskifte asked Orbit Design Studio to design the environment and create an identity for Umami restaurant, an ultra-stylish fusion restaurant that marries Japanese cuisine with French style. We did our own blending and used walnut, stone, silks and chandeliers to create a clean Japanese feel with the addition of a soupcon of French glamour, explains Mike Duncalf of Orbit Design.

Alongside the interior design, Orbit was commissioned to design and synergize the identity for the restaurant. This included visual identity elements menus, uniforms, etc. and a cover of mood generating color from Martin Cyclo 03 fluorescent color changers. The result is the most refreshingly eccentric restaurant in Copenhagen.

I wanted to create an environment or atmosphere in the restaurant where color changing lighting would have an effect on the diners experience, on their mood, so that the atmosphere would change throughout the night, states owner Jesper Boelskifte.

One of the major design elements is a large chandelier drape created by Orbit Design. Located on the first floor main dining area the chandelier runs the entire 27 meter length of the room. Hidden from view in the ceiling soffit are Cyclo 03 fluorescent color changers whose light produce an enticing yet pleasingly subtle effect in the chandeliers glass panels.

We were looking for a solution where wed have a light that was discreet enough not to disturb the guests, Jesper explains. We didn't want it to actually illuminate the room; we just wanted to create an effect colorwise and as a reflection in the chandelier. Jesper proposed the idea of the color changing system his color choices are white light, green, blue, orange and red - and Orbit came up with the idea of using the lighting effect in the chandelier. The Cyclo 03 is an RGB T5 fluorescent color changer capable of generating nearly all colors or white light of any color temperature.

Additional Cyclos are located in a large window display at the front of the restaurant, illuminating side work and the buildings exterior while sharing the color changing effect with passersby out on the street.

The fixtures have held up well. Weve had no problems whatsoever, Jesper states. Lighting supply for Umami was from Bangpro A/S and Martin Professional Scandinavia A/S.

Lighting Design: Orbit Design Studio