For this assignment, I went to McDonald's on the Airside of Sydney Airport. One feature that nearly all sources have in common is that the interior design is designed with the intention of leaving a lasting impact. Indeed, as the architectural designs of the fast-food stores continue to evolve, so do the interior design aspects including the use of colors, the lighting strategies adopted and the finishes applied. The appropriate use of interior and exterior lighting plays a critical role in the establishment of the levels of comfort and ambience of the facility (Ching, & Binggeli, 2012).
Description of the Space
The store at the airport makes use of natural and warm finishes that are highly textured. The most outstanding feature of the store is the graphic greenery that contrasts the concrete runaway that allows access to the various external spaces. The size of the store is estimated to be thrice that of the ordinary store in the town of Sydney. Besides, the space makes use of large hanging pendants that help lower the eye line. The store affords large spaces for walking through with ease and accessing the various tables that have been set to meet the demand of different sitting capacities. On one side, the cafe is fixed with large clear glass windows that not only give a view of the airport and the city, but also give sufficient light into the eating area, especially during the day. To avoid monotony, the space uses different styles of furniture that have been set to illustrate the different uses. For instance, I noticed some comfortable sitting with soft padding on the seats while others, possibly meant for the passengers that would like to grab a fast meal to use. The space also has a relatively private area that allows for private eating while having private conversations.
Function of the Space in Terms of the Visual tasks Required
While a space is required to meet its aesthetic value, the first and crucial aspect of a successful design is the ability of the space to meet the functional needs for which it was designed. In this instance, the space is designed to offer easy access, safe walk through, sufficient lighting to enable the staff and the visitors to easily conduct their duties. It is evident that the McDonald's at the airport in Sydney does meet these functional requirements. The space is large enough to meet the large traffic visiting the airport on transit. The more open space system with large windows supplements the lighting system in providing the light. The flooring, completed with textured tiles finishes allows for easy walking without the risk of falls. This is important given that the visitors include young children with an increased risk of falls. Studies in the use of colour have also been found to have an impact on the appetite of individuals. The use of colour red has been shown to elevate the appetite and I might think that the sporadic use of the colour in this store may have been informed by such evidence (Robson, 2007). Besides, the colour green used in the graphics plays a functional role of calming the customers down as it does the aesthetic effect of contrasting the warm colours.
Critique of the Effectiveness of the Current Lighting
The current lighting system at the store is largely functional and does not play a significant role in enhancing the beauty of the cafe. Most of the lighting is provided by the hanging lamps and recessed lighting onto the ceiling. The lighting system that is, however, used in illuminating the greenery graphics succeeds in creating the focal point of the entire design. The recessed lighting provides focus lighting that falls on the dining tables which creates a dramatic light and dark spots in the building adding to the atmosphere of the space. The lights create shadows that add to the overall beauty of the space. However, the lighting has been repeated in the entire space which is not only boring but also lacks the demarcation of space using light and creating more intriguing and dramatic effects in the various spaces. The hanging lamps used in some of the dining spaces provide focused lighting that can allow for the visitors to perform other functions that may require more light like reading, writing among others. Generally, the space has failed to use light to affect the mood, safety, morale and decision making.
Suggested Alternative Strategies
Lighting is clearly one of the strategies that interior designers should look to exploit in setting the theme of a space and how people will perceive and act in the said space. The three most basic and important strategies of achieving a comfortable and ambient space in a restaurant is to use ambient lighting, setting task illumination and using accent illumination (Ching, & Binggeli, 2012). The first consideration that the designers should make is to provide general lighting by the use of wall sconces and ceiling lighting. However, they should also decide on a theme and use fixtures that enhance that theme. For instance, they can incorporate modern, country or vintage fixture to the lighting theme to improve the chosen theme (Winchip, 2017).
From my observation, the theme chosen for the McDonald's at the airport is a modern one and hence more use of the modern fixtures within and outside the space can enhance the overall effect. While I was not able to visit other more functional areas like the kitchen and stores, I believe that task lighting is critical in such areas. Warm lighting can be used where food is kept to keep it warm and safe. Lastly, while accent lighting has been used, I believe it can be improved to ensure that the main features are illuminated and stand out. A case in point is the use of coloured light to illuminate the greenery and the signage within the restaurant. A strategy to create sparkle and glitter effects at some of the spaces to break the monotony of a single scheme of lighting can add to the dramatic effects and hence enhancing the chosen theme.
References
Ching, F. D., & Binggeli, C. (2012). Interior design illustrated. John Wiley & Sons.
Robson, S. K. (2007). Examining the effects of full-spectrum lighting in a restaurant.
Winchip, S. M. (2017). Fundamentals of lighting. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.
