Sketch Series 2: Restaurant

Ruby Tuesday

Restaurant

Ruby Tuesday has a lighting design that works well and creates a good mood while experiencing the space and eating a meal. All of the booths on the exterior of the space had a hanging light directly over the table creating down lighting. The shade of the fixture was in a cone shape and looking when up, the bulb of the fixture was exposed. These fixtures were set on a pretty dim setting so that they were not too harsh on the people sitting there. The tables in the middle of the space did not have a light directly over them but had larger lighting in between each of them. They were larger in diameter and they had a semi-opaque cover over them so that the bulb was not directly seen and that some of light was not transmitted through. Windows surround half of the dining space so during the day a good amount of day lighting is coming in. They have the amount controlled by the blinds and the angle at which they are turned. Other more hidden sources of light are provided but sit close to the ceiling and are directed towards objects displayed on the walls.

There appeared to be no noticeable glares yet the place was bright enough but not overly done. All of the lighting sources were either facing in the opposite direction of the view of people or they were dim enough that the placement of them did not really matter. I felt that this place was really thought out and I just had a good feeling while within it. I felt calm and relaxed and the low levels of the lights played a part in noise level of the restaurant. The lights were a warm yellow color instead of on the blue side of the spectrum. This worked well with the warm paint colors that were through out the space.

The lighting in the space in a way directed people through the space because it showed direct placement of the tables and showed people where the clear walkways were. The main dining area is divided down the middle with a wall that is closed on the bottom half but is open on the upper half. This wall is on the end were the windows were not so that the corners with the windows could throw light to its opposite corner through the open space where the wall was open.