Share this page:

Bangkok Kitchen

Tokyo, Japan

Bangkok Kitchen is a small refuge for diners in the famously fast-paced city of Tokyo . The intimate 1,055-square-foot (98 square-meter) space welcomes patrons with its serenely illuminated interior and soft, nature-inspired hues, courtesy of Color Kinetics’ intelligent LED lighting.

Designed by Mr. Yosuke Furukawa of Tokyo-based design firm Flying Pumpkins, the restaurant’s interior boasts luminous frosted-glass walls that serve as the room’s general source of illumination. Color Kinetics’ iColor® Cove units continuously run along the base of the walls, with a mirrored surface above that reflects the rich, colored light. There are no visible fixtures or overhead lights, which emphasizes the luminous panels and creates the illusion of a larger space.

The lighting effects range from tranquil, fixed colors to soothing, color-shifting patterns – all authored and controlled by a combination of ColorPlay® software and iPlayer® 2. Mr. Furukawa designed a series of themed light impressions, including the illusion of sitting in a forest or under the sea. The restaurant’s restroom takes the latter theme one step further. Upon opening the door, one appears to be stepping into seawater as iColor Cove units wash the room in deep, saturated blue. When the door is closed and locked, it triggers a halogen light to turn on.

The restaurant has a well-earned reputation with patrons as an inviting, urban oasis, and the experts agree. It was honored with a Good Design Award by the Association of Commercial Architectural Environment in Japan, and a 2003 IIDA Edwin F. Guth Memorial Award for Interior Lighting Design, Special Citation for Creative Use of Lighting in a Small Space.