Inspiration is around you. Like, when I travel any country, be it Paris or London, while walking on the streets, the architecture, the restaurants all inspire me. Inspiration for design could be anywhere.
The fire inside the oven of the world’s oldest continuously operating restaurant has been burning for 295 straight years. In 1926, when Ernest Hemingway stopped in for lunch at Restaurante Sobrino de Botin in Madrid, Spain, it had already been in operation for 201 years. He wrote of his experience there, saying “It is one of the best restaurants in the world.” He and his party dined upstairs, drinking the local rioja alta, and enjoying the roast young suckling pig, which had been on the menu since the restaurant opened in the 18th century.
The popularity of restaurants, bars, and other retail shops is partially based on the how you feel when you are in the space, the experience and the ambiance. Those who design spaces strive to create a “sense of place” for the individuals who gather there, since they seek more than mere nourishment. Successful retail store design is highly influenced by the lighting concept, it is integral to the design success and has impact on sales performance. Our composition and lighting must complement this innate design. In addition, we sensitively capture the visual merchandising, identify layout and flow that captures the sense of the consumer experience with engaging and informative photographs.
A fun note about Restaurante Sobrino de Botin is that the owner claims that the flame inside the oven has never been extinguished in nearly three centuries. They merely adjust the amount of wood needed for the time of day. If you were to experience eating there today, you may absorb the same ambiance, and maybe even share a bit of the same experience as Hemingway, as you gather with friends around the communal fire.