LWS has worked with leading brands and industry figures to craft luxury hotel suites, private residences, company showrooms, hospitality concepts, and commercial interiors.
We sat down with Lillian Wu to chat about her firm’s latest project, and why they chose Aqua Creations Luminary Design Studio to outfit the interiors. Located in Taichung, Taiwan’s second largest city, 元紀 YuenJi is a fine dining establishment helmed by Michelin-starred Chef, Lin Juwei.
Inside, patrons enjoy a sleek and modern dining room, with tables illuminated by the 5 Palms Chandelier, while arrivals are greeted with a Palm W/C Light, as well as a gorgeous welcome tea bar, framed by the To Pendant Light, Te Pendant Light and M Pendant Light of the ToTeM Collection and Family of lighting.
1) How do you begin the planning phase for each new project?
We typically initiate the planning phase by having an extensive discussion with the ownership and the operator, in this case, the executive chef. We aim to understand any predetermined concept defined and branding in mind, as well as the style of guest experience the ownership would like to cultivate – such as fine dining or a casual bistro.
2) What are the main differences in process and decision making that goes into planning a commercial interior versus a private residence?
The primary difference lies in the end-user's experience. For private clients, we tailor every decision to the individual client’s habits and lifestyle. For commercial planning, we need to collaborate with the Owner and Operator to obtain market research data and, most importantly, identify the target audience, which is the major driving factor in the decision-making process.
3) How does lighting play into creating the atmosphere of a restaurant?
Lighting is a crucial aspect of all our interior design projects. It helps create the ambiance we want the end-user to remember. A classic example of the impact of lighting is the candlelit dinner. When you light a simple candle during dinner, it sets a particularly intimate atmosphere – an enhanced overall experience, which is what makes it so memorable.
4) What drew LWS to Aqua Creations lighting and how did you incorporate the lamps into recent projects?
Oh, so many things! The intrigue of the pleated fabric work, the countless silk fabric colors (for all occasions and color palettes), and most importantly, all the sculptural organic forms that soften the hard edges of any given interior space and create an elegant ambiance. I love it!
5) The YuenJi restaurant project handled by LWS is a fine dining establishment. What was the brief from the client and how did you translate that into the design?
The client is a very prominent tea collector, and one of the main objectives was to blend tea paring with the fine dining experience. We developed a large, 8-meter-long tea bar in the arrival area and a private tea bar for each dining room to provide a unique take on the traditional tea experience for guests.
Another core focus was to elevate Taiwanese cuisine to the global stage and showcase it for the world to see. This is rather challenging since Taiwanese dining is customarily a very casual experience.
We introduced much international art in the space, combined with local artisan work, to give guests an experience filled with western influence to show that this is not simply a traditional Taiwanese restaurant, but something much more.
6) The private lounge and dining area is colorful and gorgeous. Can you explain the mix of textures, brands, wallpapers that you chose and how they all come together?
We started by giving each dining room a unique color name and drew inspiration from each specific name to craft the room designs. Then we worked with various artisans and suppliers to incorporate accents of the color rather than using a uniform color scheme. This approach allows us to incorporate subtle yet exciting elements to catch guests’ attention in an unexpected way.
7) What do you suggest to clients who are hesitant to include lots of color in their designs?
Don’t be afraid to use color! Color can provide warmth or visual excitement for a space. With careful thought and creativity a space can evoke a multitude of feelings using the right combination of colors.
Photography by Mitsuyuki Nakajima.
5 Palms Chandelier ⸺ The 5 Palms Chandelier is part of the Palm Family which takes its inspiration directly from nature while playing with movement and grace. The ceiling fixture is highly customizable, so it can fit any space. Its highly-stylized curvilinear branches of the ceiling fixture are made from hand-bent metal tubes wrapped in dark bronze organza fabric. Its five shades are detachable.
Palm Wall and Ceiling Light ⸺ The Palm Wall and Ceiling Light is an orb-shaped fixture. Its full form is drawn directly from nature, and the highly stylized, curvilinear branches of the fixture are made from hand-bent metal tubes wrapped in luxurious, dark bronze organza fabric. All the lampshades in the Palm Family and Collection of lighting are detachable, and the ceiling fixture can be customized to fit any space.
To Pendant Light ⸺ The To Pendant Light is part of the ToTeM Family - a collection of versatile lighting fixtures that boasts a contemporary design with a touch of intricate detail. The lampshade is laser-cut to create a modern and striking pattern, while the webbed polymer spray adds a unique texture and tactile quality to the overall look of the lamp.
Te Pendant Light ⸺ The Te Pendant Light is part of the ToTeM Family - a collection of versatile lighting fixtures that boasts a contemporary design with a touch of intricate detail. The lampshade is laser-cut to create a modern and striking pattern, while the webbed polymer spray adds a unique texture and tactile quality to the overall look of the lamp.
M Pendant Light ⸺ The M Pendant Light is part of the ToTeM Family - a collection of versatile lighting fixtures that boasts a contemporary design with a touch of intricate detail. The lampshade is laser-cut to create a modern and striking pattern, while the webbed polymer spray adds a unique texture and tactile quality to the overall look of the lamp.
