International lighting design practice Nulty has completed a lighting scheme for Gloria, a vibrant new dining experience from the Big Mamma Group.
Situated on Via Tivoli in Milan’s chic Brera district, the restaurant features a showstopping design narrative from the in-house design team, bursting with character and fearless use of colour and materials. The Italian-villa inspired interior required a supportive lighting scheme to elevate the energetic ambience and allow the decorative elements of the design to shine.
Lines of light frame the exterior glazing at the threshold and produce a gentle glow on the façade to evoke a sense of arrival. Inside the restaurant, layers of detail then unfold in the form of sumptuous fabrics, reflective surfaces, and artistic features, so the lighting was purposefully concealed within the architecture. Directional spotlights provide a comfortable layer of illumination and emit just enough ambient light to enhance the mood without distracting from the main event – a run of chandeliers that dance throughout the space, adding texture, movement, and glamour.
Concealed lines of light gently accentuate the mirrored arches that periodically break up the restaurant and each one has been finished with a decorative wall sconce, which reinforces the rhythm and directs light back onto the reflective surface. The focus on curved lines is reinforced again at the back of the restaurant, where illuminated mirrors help to improve permeability by pulling the eye through to the end of the room.
As the showpiece bar at the centre of the ground floor restaurant is a riot of trailing yellow flowers, statement artwork, and reflective surfaces, the lighting was integrated to preserve the design aesthetic. A mix of joinery lighting and strategically positioned uplights cast light onto the shelves and add visual emphasis – the effect is subtle yet enlivening, as the concealed light sources interact with the bottles and mirrored surfaces to produce sparkle, intensity, and drama.
Elsewhere on the mezzanine level, concealed lines of light trace the curvature of the banquet seating to emphasise the soft furnishings, while battery-powered table lamps allow light levels to adjusted in the evening to transition the mood from bright to intimate.
