FACTS & CREDITS​:

Interior design | Lighting project | Bar & special structures design | 3D Photorealistic design | Supervision 

Status: Completed

Country: Greece

Site: 102 Aegean Avenue, Port of Chios

LUMINAR means to illuminate...and it is the name that the store was given. The disadvantage of the lack of natural lighting that the space originally had, ended up being the inspiration for both the architectural team and the name of the store itself.

The architectural design of the "LUMINAR" lounge coffee & bar, located in the central port of Chios, was based on the importance of LIGHT. The space had a narrow, elongated floor plan, with only one side receiving natural light, which was insufficient to illuminate the entire length of the store. The design challenge was great, as a café bar space needs to be both aesthetically appealing and functional, both for customers and employees.

Design Box Architects began the design by placing the central bar along the length of the store, giving it the importance it deserves, while creating space for tables and chairs around it. This layout achieved the goal of giving all the main areas a clear view of the island's main port, natural lighting, and a direct connection to the bar area. Moreover, the bar, apart from being a source of food, is also the "star" of the store during all hours of operation. The specific location of the bar also favors its functional connection with the auxiliary areas of the store, such as the preparation room, kitchen, storage areas, etc. The above auxiliary uses were placed in the back of the store, which was a darker area.

Great importance was given to the functionality of the store, ensuring that the needs of all users (customers and employees) are met with clear movement spaces and access to them. This was also the owners' intention, in order to ensure the proper functioning of the store and to provide better service to customers. In more detail, access to the preparation area/kitchen is from two points, one through the bar area, so that employees can be served and supplied directly with whatever is required, and a second entrance outside the bar with direct access to all auxiliary areas for employees in the rest of the store. The second entrance leading to the preparation area, storage area, kitchen, and sink is accessed from the central corridor through a recessed doorway that is not immediately visible from the entire store. The main corridor also leads to the women's and men's restrooms.

The main circulation axis of the store contributed to the proper functionality of the spaces, as was evident during the store's operation. This provided clarity in terms of use, eliminated wasted space, and created a uniform connection between the seating areas, which was necessary due to the limited surface area of the store. The DJ area is located in direct contact with the seating area and was placed in an existing recess in the store, leaving the front area open for seated guests. The DJ has an unobstructed view of the store's users and is directly accessible to them, which is necessary for the role he is called upon to fulfill in such a store.

The bar in this project plays a dominant role in the operation of the store. For this reason, it was deemed appropriate to place particular emphasis on its design.  In addition to the obvious requirements, such as the presentation of drinks, storage of glasses, etc., the owners requested the creation of a clearly visible cocktail station. For this reason, a clear separation was made between the work area of the person preparing the cocktails and the rest of the bar, with a special section inside it for cocktail ingredients and preparation. The design concept for the bar's construction was based on the idea of waves and flow, given that the store is located on the central waterfront of the port of Chios, right next to the sea. The curved lines create a flow in the space, which is then echoed in the lighting fixtures that were chosen, as well as in the store's logo (spiral). Spaces were created for displaying the bottles with adjustable lighting in order to showcase them appropriately. The compartments created in the structures allowed for the categorization of drinks to make them easily recognizable by the user.

Due to the narrow floor plan of the store, the idea of using mirrors in various elements within the space aimed to create the impression that the space is larger and wider. They were placed at key points such as the entrance and opposite the bar to add depth and reflection to the structures. Upon entering the store, there is a play on different materials such as wood paneling, mirrors, marble, fabrics, and metal elements, combined with impressive lighting fixtures. The composition of all the above elements gives the user a complete picture of the aesthetics of the space they are visiting and aims to impress them.

The absence of natural lighting throughout the store, as mentioned above, was the main challenge that the architectural team was called upon to solve and ultimately became a source of inspiration for this project! The flow of natural light entering the space from the unique facade of the store, the use of artificial lighting, and the shapes of the lighting fixtures that were selected determined the central idea of the composition. The light fixtures, which were installed in sharply curved shapes, create a conceptual path through the store. The large round luminaires at the entrance of the store signal the user's brief pause upon entering, allowing them to decide which direction to move in. The composition with the light tubes above the bar gives a sense of movement and flow, while when their light fluctuates in combination with the music, they give the whole store the required rhythm, especially at night. Rails with projectors were chosen for the store's traffic areas. At the back of the store, a raised area with sofas was created for larger groups to sit and relax. This area is lit by a large circular light fixture, creating a warmer corner.  All the lights have LED bulbs, which help save energy, and can be dimmed to control the brightness during the day and night. 

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