Hakkasan – London, Hanway Place
The first Hakkasan restaurant opened in London in 2001, giving Chinese cuisine the glamour it had been missing. It is a “dark black environment” with hand-carved wooden screens, where you have exactly as much light as you need to move around safely and to dine at the large wooden counters on which the food is served.
The lighting, to which particular attention was paid, makes the restaurant truly unique. Halogen spots are hidden in the black ceiling, behind its wooden beams, discreetly focusing on the spots “that matter”. The “magical atmosphere” is completed by a playful effect created by special projectors on the wall behind the bar, which simulate water flowing down to the floor.
The first Hakkasan (Hanway Place) is a restaurant that is an experience in itself, and it is certainly worth a visit on your next trip to London.
Hakkasan – London, Myfair
Last year we came across the latest arrival of the now-famous chain, in the ultra-luxurious Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi. The architectural firm Woods Bagot was responsible for the design, Gilles and Bossier for the interior decoration, and the Firefly Lighting Design team for the lighting.
Hakkasan – Abu Dhabi
This concept, like the other two Hakkasans created after the first (in Miami and in Mayfair, London), differs in several respects, particularly in the lighting. The luminaires are now clearly visible in the restaurant, which takes away the “magic of the self-illuminated space” that visitors experienced in the first.
We certainly cannot speak of bad lighting or a bad environment, but the uniqueness of the first restaurant seems to have been “sacrificed” on the altar of “convenience” in the expansion of the chain.
Hakkasan – Abu Dhabi
In the case of Abu Dhabi, for which we obtained information from enlightermagazine.com, the blue glass walls, backlit and “embracing” the space, are striking, while ceiling and floor luminaires now “decorate” the tables.
Hakkasan – Abu Dhabi
Various rustic motifs give character to the four private rooms, which are enclosed by wooden partitions that offer a sense of seclusion without stifling the lively atmosphere of the restaurant, which seeps discreetly inside.
Hakkasan – London, Myfair
Beyond the aesthetics of its restaurants, the Hakkasan chain is now known worldwide for the quality of its menu, which is well worth trying on your next trip to London, Miami, Abu Dhabi and, soon, Mumbai.
Text: Manos Lianopoulos
Source: www.flashlight.gr
