Find Your Lucky Star: A Transformative Dining Experience

An Upside-Down Restaurant Pop-Up Installation by Emma Maxwell

A custom-made minimalist/brutalist architectural structure has taken the dining experience to new heights. Designed by Emma Maxwell, the "Find Your Lucky Star" installation is a restaurant pop-up that challenges guests' perceptions and offers a transformative journey through a haptic environment. Located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this unique dining experience is a collaboration between Maxwell and the Marriott Hotel group.

The installation measures 6500mm x 3500mm x 5000mm and is constructed from recyclable particle board. Inside, guests are greeted with an otherworldly upside-down printed landscape on the walls. Over the course of two hours, the landscape transforms into a glittering projected star field film, creating a mesmerizing and immersive atmosphere.

The dining experience is carefully curated to enhance the transformative journey. A 6-meter long mirror top table, custom-designed for the space, reflects the surroundings and adds to the illusion of an upside-down world. The soundtrack and strategically timed lighting sequences further contribute to the sensory stimulation, creating a heightened sense of perception and palate.

Emma Maxwell, the visionary behind this installation, explains, "Flavor isn't as straightforward as the tongue and nose suggest. Taste perception depends not only on the integration of several sensory inputs associated with the food or drink itself, but also on the attributes of the environment in which the food is consumed." With this in mind, Maxwell conducted extensive research on the effects of color, environment, sound, and movement to create a truly transformative sensory experience.

The challenges faced during the creation of this installation were considerable. Concealing the hardware of 10 projectors and numerous computers driving the installation required meticulous planning and attention to detail. However, the end result is a seamless and believable space that immerses guests in an evocative otherworldly environment.

"Find Your Lucky Star" has garnered recognition in the design world, receiving the Bronze A' Design Award in 2018 for Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design. This prestigious award celebrates designs that exhibit strong technical and creative skills, contributing to quality of life improvements.

Step into a world where perception is turned upside down and dreams come true. "Find Your Lucky Star" offers a dining experience like no other, challenging your senses and inviting you to see and feel new possibilities.