Located in a tenement building in the East Village, Ludo (Latin for “to play”), has two levels and two bar areas with an enticing multi-ethnic menu served in an unpretentious laid-back environment. In response to the architect’s vision of evoking a
Mediterranean Tavern, the lighting design
approach was simple, airy, organic and tactile. The lounge at the street level portrays a calm elegance with an alluring pool of blue light beckoning from below.
Visitors are drawn to the rippling blue waves that appear to be reflected off a lagoon in a secluded grotto cave. Plunge into the basement below you are greeted directly
with a myriad of flickering votives inlaid into an exposed brick wall. This constellation of soft glowing candles cradles the hostess podium and frames a view into the plush red leather lounge beyond.
The lighting for the lounge room utilizes the texture of the old basement walls,
which are up lit with 20W MR11 lamps. Tables are accented with adjustable pinhole downlights. The basement bar is only across the hallway and is adjacent to the main
dinning room. In the main dining room, daylight is simulated with linear fluorescence built-in behind old world shutters.During dinner hours, the mood is changed by switching from the fluorescent to amber lensed downlights to create an illusion of
dining at sunset along the Mediterranean coast. The custom copper tube pendants above the bar provide a warm light great for rendering food and skitones. Providing
a light at the deadman’s bar provides a warm ambience for intimate New York conversations.