Liquorish is a bar and restaurant in East Dulwich, a conversion of an existing shop space and an extension with a 10m long roof light. A new double height space explores domestic and commercial scales within the new extension.

Light is a critical element of the design; through our collaboration with lighting designer studio ZNA, we contrasted exposed tungsten light bulbs with lines of fluorescent light in changing colours that are hidden within walls or cut across them.

We have used materials and theatrical techniques in a playful way: a negative image of a light bulb is screen-printed in an illuminated niche and positioned behind a real light bulb; cast concrete floor planks appear at first glance to be of timber. The different materials have their own character; reclaimed materials in the tables and bar front, set against a cast concrete shop front and bar top.

Photography: David Lambert