The Golden Bee cocktail bar on the edge of London's financial quarter is the ideal haunt for sophisticated socialites and city worker, bringing an air of glamor to the trendy urban village of Shoreditch.
With chic interior décor and a beautiful rooftop terrace, it's a fantastic backdrop for after-work drinks, weekend celebrations and bespoke corporate events.
The ceiling area above the bar's main seating space needed something really special as a focal point, and award-winning restaurant and bar designers Grapes Design collaborated with UFO to manufacture and install an original lighting feature - the first ever 'shot glass' lighting system.
As designer Darren from the Grapes Design explains: "I've always wanted to pursue the idea of utilizing glassware. Shot glasses lend themselves as a decorative shade... the facets on the glass reflect and refract the light in a seductive manner when lit... perfect for a bar environment."
Working to Grape Design's specification, UFO modified the backs of more than 600 individual shot glasses to take a UFO flush lens. These supported the fiber tails and spread the light throughout the glass. The glasses were fixed individually to the ceiling.
The fiber optics were powered by UFO metal halide illuminators stored in the ceiling recess directly above, for easy access and maintenance.
London, England
Commercial, Decorative Lighting
Grapes Design
Illuminators: 4 x Compact DMX
Harnesses: 656 tails of PMMA fiber with a 1.5mm active diameter
End Fittings: 656 sparkle flush lenses & 656 acrylic shot glasses
2012