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Q & A: Gordana Jordanovska, Studio Goga

Written by Heather Lowrey
Images Provided by Studio Goga
April 2021
It was a (surprisingly) warm day in early March that I had the privilege of having a conversation with Gordana Jordanovska, designer and owner of Studio Goga. Throughout our entire conversation, her passion for good design, and lighting, was obvious. Inspired and influenced by her family while working in their bakery in Yugoslavia, and then a restaurant here in Chicago, she's truly made her mark with her vision and enthusiasm for design, curating the career she has today.
"As a young architect in Chicago, to owning my own design studio, I have been fortunate enough to design some extraordinary concepts in museums, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, residences, market halls and retail spaces worldwide...all inspired by my life experiences within hospitality"
Lighting plays a big part in Gordana's realm of expertise. In her words, she takes every opportunity to ‘paint with light' and create spectacular spaces for her clients. Gordana explains her passion for lighting, and how she used it for an incredible renovation project at a hospital in San Fransisco.

What do you find inspiring about lighting?

It informs all aspects of my designs. It sets the tone for our lives. From lighting up a room to the candle lights on the table, lighting affects our mood and quality of life. I can go on....and on...

How do you use lighting in your work?

In every way. I set the scene with lighting, guide people intuitively through space to lighting up the highlights in our spaces. From work surfaces to artwork, from the ceiling to the floor, it is the most important element in the final touch of the spaces I design.

Can you tell me more about this incredible renovation project at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital Cafe?

Absolutely. It is a state-of-the-art cafe, complete with a teaching kitchen and a custom glass walk-in fridge that highlights a plant-rich concept. There are multiple food stations, dining areas and co-working spaces that open up to a beautiful outdoor herb garden and a conference center. I used lighting to guide people through the space, bring forth the rich colors displayed at the food stations, and impart energy and life into every conference room and dining area. I wanted the area to be light and airy, and a space to decompress and relax. The ‘Heroes Lounge' is bright and open with a beautiful view of the garden and the outdoors.

I see you used a few of our lighting systems...can you talk about that?

Sure. Truline was appealing to me, I've worked with this lighting system before and I really appreciate its simplistic line-of-light and modern aesthetic. I used Truline for wayfinding throughout the café, and in the entrance on the floating ceilings. It makes quite an impression at the main entrance. TruLine also reduced installation costs because I didn't have to disrupt the existing HVAC system with retrofits. TruLine installs cleanly into 5/8” drywall so no major ceiling re-work was required. It's a clean finish which is exactly what I needed. I also used Verge and Pix Sticks as unique design elements.

You worked with a remarkable team on this project, when will it complete?

Yes, the team was phenomenal. Truly a group of passionate enthusiasts for the hospital and well-being of the many heroic workers who spend so much time caring for others. I worked closely with Fedele Bauccio, Chief Executive Officer and Cofounder of Bon Appétit Management Company. He was instrumental in creating the right environment for dining, lounging, relaxing and recharging.

What we've all been through over the course of the past year has been unprecedented, and has only shown a spotlight on how important it is for the hospital environment to be a healing one. I am working closely with Fedele who believes so much in bringing health, wellness and true healing to the hospital staff and their many patients. The renovation is scheduled to be completed by 2022.

What would you say is one of your strengths as a lighting designer?

I use architectural lighting in an unconventional way. In the past, when we work on existing buildings and structures, and sometimes even with new structures, there are limitations like ceiling height and depths. You can lose a foot in the ceiling due to housing, easy. Architectural lighting systems, like TruLine for example, allow me to work with a really shallow finish and create exciting and dynamic environments. I truly appreciate architectural lighting, I think it ads so much art and emotion to a space. I'm always asking myself, what can I do here with reflection and light? How can I create emotion here? I try to think beyond the obvious answer and push myself to consider how to use light on ceilings, floors and walls, as well as making it functional.

At PureEdge Lighting, we support the many talented creatives that breathe life and continued innovation into an industry we love...lighting.

Learn more about Gordana Jordanovska and Studio Goga:
Website: studiogoga.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordana-jordanovska-5567b55/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiogogadesign/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Studio-GOGA-by-Gordana-Jordanovska-167773939931028/


Are you a lighting designer, architect, engineer or interior designer, and have a project where you specified and installed PureEdge Lighting? We want to hear your story! Please reach out directly to Heather Lowrey at hlowrey@pureedgelighting.com.