Caviar Kaspia at The Mark
the LittleOnes® Micro Illuminates the Fashionably Chic
at Manhattan's latest caviar boutique restaurant and bar
Caviar Kaspia at The Mark Hotel has quickly become an iconic restaurant and bar destination for the ultra-fashionable and chic in New York. A Parisian institution, it first opened in Paris in 1927 and, nearly 100 years later, opened its first NYC location in 2023 at the corner of Madison Avenue and 77th Street.
CONCEPT + REQUIREMENTS
Caviar Kaspia features the bold vision of interior designer Jacques Grange, the interiors of the restaurant and bar by Spivak Architects, and lighting design by L’Observatoire International. The restaurant and bar combined, are 1,350 square feet, with a sculptural Belgian black marble bar, wood-paneled walls, and 8’ 8” high suspended wood-paneled ceilings. The space elegantly marries its Parisian namesake’s warm and intimate atmosphere with classic old-world décor and The Mark Hotel’s trendy and timeless aesthetic.
Carrie Chang, Associate Lighting Designer at L’Observatoire International describes how they created a beautifully lit and cozy dining experience with their lighting design. She explains,
The downlights create brighter light levels across the dining areas during the day, while at night, lighting at the table is more intimate and ambient in contrast to the bar displays.
Challenges And Solutions:
Restaurant/Bar
CHALLENGE
Similar to many projects, Caviar Kaspia had its own set of directives. Consulting with the architect, the design called for a light source that was very small and discreet during the day and would disappear at night. Additionally, the architects wanted to organize the 1" light fixtures in the corners of the wooden ceiling panels, which required a narrow footprint for housing, especially in the corners where the ceiling meets the wall.
SOLUTION
A miniscule light source with flexibility and options were essential. Chang points out,
There are quite a few miniature downlights available. We specified the LittleOnes Micro adjustable downlights because of its 1” aperture, regressed light source, narrow housing option, and lens accessories that address our design requirements.
Below are lighting features that were essential to the project:
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Narrow Housing. The housing had to be narrow enough to install the 1” fixtures into the corners of the wooden ceiling panels along the walls. Regressed Trim. the LittleOnes Micro regress downlights provide a minimalistic appearance with glare control built into the fixture. |
CTO Filter. The CTO filter warms the color temperature from 2700K down to 2400K – providing the desired warm ambient lighting the restaurant and bar needed for an intimate setting. |
Hexcell Louver. Reduces glare, allowing the LittleOnes Micro to highlight the bar/retail area displays sufficiently without being intrusive to the environment. Adjustable. Placement in the corners of the wooden panels required adjustable fixtures that can be aimed to light specific areas. |
THE RESULT.
During the day, the LittleOnes 1” provides the necessary ambient lighting throughout Caviar Kaspia.
Entering the restaurant and bar, you wouldn’t notice the LittleOnes because of the regressed light source and their placement at the corners of the ceiling panels. This layer of light was critical to have on in the daytime for the dining areas to feel welcoming.
At night, the LittleOnes remain on at the entrance and bar, illuminating the backlit displays and bar seating, while they dim to “off” in the dining area. Small glowing fabric table lamps provide localized lighting at each seating – creating individual candle-lit environments as the LittleOnes disappear into the ceilings.
Product Used
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