Restaurant experience: Lighting and Atmosphere

Abstract: Atmosphere is one of the critical aspects in dining spaces that influences the user choice and over all image of the space, and lighting plays an important role in creating this ‘atmosphere’. The aim of this research-design thesis is to study how lighting influences the atmosphere in family restaurants. The inspiration comes from an interest to explore how lighting design could improve the quality of these spaces, since dining out has become a regular activity. Literature review on atmosphere, and visual approach to lighting creates the base of this thesis. Case studies use the literature as a tool, and explore how lighting creates different atmospheres in three different family restaurants. User behavior is additionally analyzed since they are the primary stakeholders in hospitality spaces. Finally a conceptual design is developed for an Indian restaurant in Stockholm to further explore the connection between lighting and atmosphere through application of results from literature and cases. These results show significant contribution of lighting in creating a suitable and comfortable atmosphere in restaurants, which are elaborated as drivers for the design development.