Lord of the Fries

My life as leader of Hardware Lane’s most influential lighting design practice can be pretty exciting at times.  I get to meet some wonderful people and see some fantastic things.

Last weekend I spent a few hours up at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.  A visit to the cinema (the new Thomas the Tank Engine film) was followed by some time at the kids play area.  Coincidentally (unless you are cynically-minded), this is where the fast food outlets are located and I found myself checking out the lighting to the Lord of the Fries restaurant.  And therein found proof of a lesson in light which I will share today: it doesn’t matter how much light you put into a space with a black ceiling, walls and floor; it’s always going to look dark.  There were dozens of high-powered fluoros cranked up to the max and the place hardly looked open.  Don’t get me wrong – I’m sure the fries are delicious but the interior was, well, a bit of a mouse-hole.