INA
INA is an innovative new dining concept celebrating the ancient craft of open-fire cooking through flame-grilled cuisine produced from Dubai’s largest open-fire grill.
Located on the shores of J1 Beach at La Mer, Dubai’s emerging urban riviera of beachfront restaurants and exclusive beach clubs, INA brings a raw, elemental culinary experience into a refined coastal setting.
For The Lighting Design Studio, the project represented an opportunity to create an immersive environment where light responds to the energy of the space itself. INA demanded more than a conventional architectural lighting solution; it required a dynamic, adaptable lighting language capable of evolving from relaxed dining to high-impact, DJ-led evenings. The result is a scheme in which technology is carefully embedded and largely unseen, supporting a narrative of movement, rhythm and atmosphere without ever dominating the guest experience.
The studio delivered lighting design, product specification and hands-on support throughout installation. Architectural lighting, anchored by Mode Lighting control, is complemented by dynamic layers driven through Madrix, with high-level integration into a GrandMA3 platform. This unified control backbone allows seamless transitions between ambient dining scenes and energetic, performance-led lighting moments. A MIDI keyboard integrated into the DJ booth enables real-time manual control, giving operators intuitive access to scene changes and creative flexibility as the mood shifts.
Timed sequences run effortlessly throughout the day, responding naturally to the changing rhythm of the venue, while manual overrides allow instant expression when required. Through careful coordination of light, control and architecture, the lighting becomes an invisible but powerful contributor to the experience. At INA, relaxed sophistication and vibrant energy meet by the sea, with lighting that does more than illuminate the space – it shapes how it feels.
