With its ancestral stone walls and off-kilter glass wall, Mimi la Nuit evokes the secret, intimate and muffled atmosphere of the speakeasies of the Prohibition era. The bar and restaurant, each with its own entrance, are fused together in one room. This one space/two functions combination is deftly pulled off thanks to a subtle play of cold white and warm white, along with the rich choice of materials: copper, marble, concrete, glass and oak, which all add to the timeless, cosy ambiance. The long bar in the soft-light surroundings is an invitation for people to linger and rub shoulders, both directly and indirectly. No fewer than seven different sources of light were designed to bring life to each of the noble surfaces. Pools of light penetrate the darkness, creating a gauzy atmosphere that adds to the intimate mood. A line of light runs from the secret entrance all the way to the restaurant section. A series of filters and correction filters emit different light intensities, similar to the variations found in a flame. This ingenious use of light—a challenge for a bar and harmoniously designed within the whole space—brings a cinematographic finishing touch to the room.
