1.Project Overview

Nestled in the culturally rich city of Chiang Mai, known for its ancient temples and Lanna heritage, a visionary client aimed to launch a cafe that defies tradition. The “Chiang Mai Space Cafe” is a futuristic concept blending local Thai aesthetics with sci-fi elements. The interior features metallic surfaces, blue translucent furniture, and traditional Thai wood carvings. The client required a centerpiece that would act as the “center of gravity” for the space—a literal moon that customers could dine under.

2.The Challenge

Creating a thematic commercial fixture brought specific challenges:
Thematic Fusion: The space juxtaposes neon “Cyberpunk” vibes with traditional Thai wall art. The lighting fixture needed to bridge these two contrasting styles—looking futuristic enough for the theme, but warm enough to fit the hospitality setting.
Functional vs. Ambient: A solid “moon” sphere creates shadows. The challenge was to provide enough functional downlight for the communal work table below without ruining the mysterious glow of the planetary body.
Visual Weight & Suspension: The fixture needed to look like it was floating in zero gravity. Heavy chains or visible wiring would break the illusion of an orbiting planet.

3.The Tikanna Solution

We engineered the “Celestial Orbit” system, a hybrid decorative and architectural fixture:
3D Printed Lunar Core: The central sphere is crafted from roto-molded, high-diffusion material with a 3D-printed texture derived from actual lunar maps. It glows internally with a soft, cool white light to mimic the moon’s surface.
Halo Ring Illumination: To solve the lighting function, we surrounded the moon with four concentric rings of high-output LED profiles. These rings provide the primary downlight for the table, ensuring the workspace is bright and usable while creating a “Saturn-like” silhouette.
Invisible Suspension: We utilized ultra-thin, high-tensile aircraft cables for installation. Against the dark industrial ceiling, the cables disappear, making the heavy rings and sphere appear to hover magically in mid-air.

4.The Result

The “Lanna Galaxy” installation has become an instant viral hit on social media. It serves as the visual anchor of the cafe, drawing tourists and locals alike who come to “have coffee on the moon.” The client praises Tikanna for turning a wild concept into a safe, functional, and awe-inspiring reality that defines their brand identity.