Healthcare
Bringing outdoor elements inside has always been a smart design option for restaurants (think lush indoor plants and trickling waterfalls). Now there's an option from above: The SkyCeiling. A high-resolution photographic illusion of beautiful sky, the SkyCeiling is installed in standard ceiling grids and lit from behind to create a virtual roof-top window. Different motifs, incorporating clouds and treetops are available, as well as lighting systems that can simulate distinct levels of daylight, from sunrise to sunset.
Although this modern trompe l'oeil has been big in health facilities where it is said to help trigger a "relaxation response", its advantage for restaurant interiors is two-fold, notes Bill Witherspoon, CEO of Sky Factory, the manufacturer. "It can make small spaces feel more expansive and create a relaxed yet lively feeling that is conducive to good dining."
