It takes more than a cocktail menu to turn a daytime cafe into a romantic nighttime bistro – something the owners of Workshop Coffee were well aware of. They invited us to create a flexible lighting design that would achieve the right ambience at all hours, while keeping to the style of the existing interior design.
The large windows and skylight allowed us to make the most of the natural daylight, and the space was transformed at night through contrast and accent lighting directed onto the tables and shelving units. Working to a modest budget, we used reclaimed light fittings to reinforce the industrial atmosphere, and added a control system – which dims and changes the lights through the day depending on daylight levels – to save energy.
The result? A bright and open space to grab a coffee and do some work during the day, and an intimate dinner venue after dark.
Photography: James French
— Ellie Coombs
