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BUND

Designer: Lighting Design Studio

Hidden behind a mirrored wall within Shanghai Me, Bund offers a very different experience. Inspired by the discreet speakeasies of 1930s Shanghai, the space is designed to evolve throughout the day, transitioning from relaxed, refined moments into high energy, performance led evenings. Lighting plays a central role in shaping this transformation, working as an invisible layer that defines mood, rhythm and identity.


Applelec Projects were engaged to deliver a series of bespoke illuminated features that would support this dynamic environment, balancing architectural integration with the technical demands of a fully controlled lighting scheme.


Within the space, feature columns form key vertical elements, contributing to the sculptural language of the interior. Applelec Projects supplied and installed the translucent stretch fabric used to create these forms, fixing it to shaped aluminium tracks and heat forming it on site to achieve smooth, natural curves. The result is a refined surface that allows light to interact with the form, creating soft, diffused visual depth while maintaining the intended design aesthetic.

At the bar, the focus shifts to precision and performance. The ceiling feature, combining a alabaster surface with decorative metalwork, required completely uniform illumination within an extremely limited depth. Applelec LED Light Sheet was specified as the only solution capable of achieving this, with its ultra slim construction and patented heat management technology ensuring both performance and longevity. The etched light distribution pattern draws light evenly across the panel, eliminating hotspots and maintaining consistency across the entire surface.


This same approach was applied to the illuminated back wall of the bar, adapted into segmented sections to accommodate shelving while preserving a continuous visual effect. The result is a cohesive lighting feature that integrates seamlessly into the architecture, supporting the richness of the materials without exposing the complexity behind it.


Crucially, the lighting within Bund is not static. Applelec’s systems were supplied with DMX control, enabling full integration with the venue’s Rako and Madrix systems. This allows the lighting to evolve throughout the day, transitioning between calm, ambient scenes and more immersive, high energy states. Timed sequences and manual controls work together to ensure the lighting responds naturally to both the setting sun and the rhythm of the space.


Even within secondary areas, the same level of consideration is evident. The toilet ceilings were developed as fully integrated features, combining polished brass fret cut frameworks with bespoke illuminated panels. A double rim construction allows for both the secure placement of diffusers and discreet access to services, while warm white LEDs and DALI control provide a consistent and controllable lighting environment.

Bund demonstrates how lighting can move beyond functional illumination to become a defining element of experience. Through a combination of bespoke fabrication, advanced control and carefully engineered light sources, the space is able to shift seamlessly between atmospheres, supporting both intimacy and energy without compromise.


While Bund explores the dynamic potential of lighting, it forms part of the wider Shanghai Me project, where illumination is used with greater restraint to enhance materiality and atmosphere. Together, the two spaces demonstrate the breadth of what integrated lighting can achieve when considered from the outset.


Explore the Shanghai Me case study to see how integrated illuminated surfaces helped shape the restaurant’s refined atmosphere. Take a look >


Image sources:

Lighting Design Studio, Johnny Stephens Photography, Lucas Xu

Learn more about the product used in this project.

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