Award-Winning Lighting Design at AMA Sushi, Rosewood Miramar Beach
AMA Sushi at Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito, California is the latest addition to the resort’s amenities. Renowned firm eSquared Lighting Design, interior designers from AvroKO and architects from Rossi Architecture were brought together by Caruso, a developer known for blending best-in-class real estate with five-star hospitality, to transform a pre-existing bungalow into a dining destination. This exceptional project was recently awarded the prestigious Award of Merit at the 50th Annual IES Illumination Awards and an Award of Merit at Lumen West 2023.
The design of the restaurant serves as an homage to Japan's Ama, female free divers, with finishes chosen to represent the ocean and the pearls the divers collect. A critical aspect of the space’s ambiance is the lighting. According to Erin Erdman, Owner & Lighting Designer at eSquared, “As a firm, our primary focus is on the intricate layers of lighting. We’re there to highlight architecture and interiors while providing task lighting where needed. Lighting is an integral part of the narrative, contributing to the restaurants story”.
A major focal point for the sushi bar is the curved onyx bar. Constructed entirely of tiered stone, the bar represented one of the more complicated lighting challenges eSquared faced. “One of the challenges we encountered was the limited space available for placing our lights. There was a lot of conversation on what this detail was going to look like, and I think the biggest challenge was how were we going to integrate the channels, clips, and connectors,” stated Gabby El Sayad, Lighting Designer at eSquared.
QTL’s Q-CAP flexible WALA fixture was selected due to its compact size and ability to bend and follow the curves in the statement piece. WALA is embedded into each layer of white stone, pointing down to highlight each layer of stone, a detail that may have otherwise been missed by guests. Erin emphasized, “The lighting here is crucial—it highlights the tiers of the bar, showcasing the intricate design. Without lighting, that would really be flattened out, and you wouldn't read all that interior detail. Due to the translucent nature of the onyx, the bar glows, creating a luxurious nacre finish representative of the inside of a shell.
Large, exposed beams traverse inky-blue plaster ceilings, providing an atmosphere akin to an Ama diver's view of the sky from the depths of the sea. MICRO 5’s ALTA profile was selected to illuminate two layers of coves.
ALTA was also incorporated into the bar. The rigid fixtures illuminate the face of the bottles and add a highlight at the top of the shelves, drawing the eye up to the luxury finishes throughout the space. Erin expressed their admiration for QTL, stating, “We chose QTL because we believe that the MICRO 5 Series is a really well-developed product, and you can get all the parts and pieces in all of those micro tape lights.” This choice reflects their commitment to utilizing high-quality components to enhance the overall lighting design.
The choice of 2700K for both ALTA and WALA fixtures, a go-to CCT for hospitality spaces, adds to the restaurant’s warm ambiance. In discussing the selection process, Gabby emphasized, "We looked carefully at color temperature, strategically planning how to integrate lighting into the transparent stone to get the right color white.”
Erin points out that most of the space was illuminated with linear lighting. There are only a few point sources, located in very specific places to light art and tasks. Most point sources are hidden from the guest experience, allowing the integrated linear lighting and decorative fixtures to produce a majority of the light. Notably, even the chefs expressed satisfaction with the lighting, affirming its effectiveness in providing ample task lighting at the sushi bar. This achievement highlights the successful balance between providing functional lighting for the chefs and preserving the intimate and comfortable atmosphere in the dining area.
To control the lighting fixtures, eSquared Lighting Design selected a Lutron system with three separate scenes, along with QZ power supplies. These versatile Class 2 LED drivers offer precise control with phase (forward or reverse) or 0-10V dimming down to 0.1%, ensuring flicker-free dimming. This level of control enabled eSquared Lighting Design to fine-tune the lighting to match Caruso’s desired ambiance, whether it's a bright, energetic lunch service, happy hour at dusk, or a subdued intimate dinner setting. The result is a space where culinary mastery, aesthetic beauty, and an authentic tribute to Ama divers come together in perfect harmony, making AMA Sushi a truly unforgettable dining experience.
