Lighting solutions
en
Friends Restaurant in Kyustendil received a completely renewed appearance in 2024, bringing together contemporary aesthetics and the welcoming character of a comfortable home. The complete renovation of its two dining areas was developed by the boutique design studio Atelier 360, while the lighting solutions were supplied by Polaris Lighting. The selected luminaires perform both functional and decorative roles, highlighting the architectural forms, natural materials and individual zones throughout the restaurant.
The restaurant is situated within the green pedestrian zone in the centre of Kyustendil. Its original 150-square-metre interior was completed in 2015, followed in 2018 by a new 130-square-metre “in-out” area. In 2024, both spaces, covering a total of 280 square metres, underwent a complete renovation. The new concept retains the restaurant’s familiar sense of hospitality while presenting it through a bolder, more contemporary and visually consistent design language.
The solutions supplied by Polaris Lighting include the MESH 360 LED aluminium profile and the circular OREOL LED profile. The linear elements follow the dynamic rhythm of the ceiling, establishing direction and movement throughout the space. Their geometric character is balanced by illuminated OREOL rings, arranged in recognisable compositions above the tables and seating areas. Lighting therefore becomes more than a separate technical layer: it forms a visible and memorable part of the interior architecture.
The specially designed acoustic luminaires are among the project’s most distinctive features. They combine light, colour and sound-absorbing properties – an important advantage in a lively restaurant where comfortable conversation is an essential part of the guest experience. Circular and organic forms create a sculptural composition across the ceiling, while warm colour accents soften the industrial presence of exposed concrete and metal structures.
The lighting works in dialogue with oak surfaces, leather, earth-toned textiles, concrete, plants and Scandinavian moss. Around the bar, illumination reveals the bottles, glassware and carefully crafted furnishing details. Across the dining areas, it defines smaller islands around the tables and creates a more intimate atmosphere without interrupting the visual continuity of the open interior. Natural and artificial light complement each other in the glazed zone, reinforcing the project’s connection between indoors and outdoors.
The completed restaurant has a clearly recognisable lighting identity in which every element has a defined position and purpose. With the MESH 360 and OREOL profiles supplied by Polaris Lighting, together with the specially developed acoustic luminaires, Friends Restaurant offers a contemporary environment combining visual energy, functionality and the relaxed feeling of sharing dinner at home with friends.
