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Hospitality Lighting
Hospitality Lighting
Tourism and gastronomy are widely recognized as the most important sectors of the world economy, as
the result, the architecture, and interior design are also growing rapidly and have achieved many
amazing projects in the course of history. Whether the design for hotels, restaurants or bars always
require a frame to carry the communication theme, lighting is the most important part to create an
atmosphere for the space and increase the beauty for the interior space.
In the restaurant, the table is the main point of the event while the food and drinks is the centre of the
table. So, the lighting requires a good light for the visibility of the customers, the food and drinks on the
table, and light to create an appropriate atmosphere in the restaurant. Table lighting should be brilliant,
comfortable and have a good colour rendering. Fluorescent lamp creates a diffuse and matt appearance.
Colour light and candle light can make the space warmer and create a romantic atmosphere. Low
voltage alogen capsule,reflector, or dim novallure candle bulb with an appropriate lamp shade produce
a brilliant, warm light for a luxury place.
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Grand Hotel Aminta. The spot-lights from the ceiling focus onto each table with the brilliant light of
halogen lamps, while the wall lighting warms up the atmosphere of the restaurant, that the customers
can enjoy their meals and the beautiful view outside of the early morning through the large windows.
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The interior of the restaurant was designed with the glass enclosure on one side to get the natural
lighting during the day and also the view of the city at night. To allow a view from inside to outside the
building, the luminaires of the interior must have a lower level to reduce the reflections on the window.
Furthermore, the luminaires shoud have an excellent anti-glare with a well-devised luminaire
arrangement to avoid the luminaire’s reflection on the windows. The organic wall with green leaves give
the fresh tone for the background. The ceiling and furniture are using the wooden and natural colour
materials. The ceiling is high and the tables are arranged in a long row to get more space and more
comfortable feeling for the coustomers to enjoy their meal. The spot LED lights are placed in different
heights to create a stunning play shadow on the surface. It is a good combination of the natural and the
modern tone for the interior space.
Koi Restaurant in Bryant Park Hotel, New York, designed by Paul Gregory and Michael Cummings
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The special feature of Koi restaurant is the white criss-crossed lattice beams stretching from the
sidewalls across the black painted ceiling overhead. The black ceiling and halogen LED light used
underneath makes the latticed white canopy stand-out of the background and has a factor as a
decoration. It evokes the idea of a beehive honeycomb or the intersecting strands of a spider’s web and
the customers are the insects inside. The shadows reflecting from the lattice light creates a romantic
atmosphere for the restaurant and also an interesting feeling from the design.
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The buffet restaurant lighting design will use a different concept. The area is divided into many different
zones such as starters, salad bar, hot food, grill bar, noodle bar, drinks and desserts. The lighting should
focus into the food area, while the eating area requires a comfortable atmosphere to enjoy the meal
and to communicate with the people around. This restaurant was designed with a high wooden roof,
natural stone furniture and wide windows to connect to the nature outside. The low-voltage halogen
with simple white lamp shade provides a warm atmosphere for the interior space and also bring out the
beauty of the food colours. The well-prepared food of the chef looks more brilliant, colourful and
becomes the decorations for the dining space to make the atmosphere more lively.
Bar and lounge require a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere for the communication while the bar
table with bar staff is the focal point here, requires enough light to do their job. Wallwasher with
asymmetric light, or accent lighting from the front produce the highlight and brilliant light, enhance the
cocktails and the sparkling glasses as well as the bottles at the bar. The light beams can be rotated from
360° to 40° to adjust the glare for a good visual comfort. Changing colour lighting with LED lamps for the
backlighting of the bar shelves creates a comfortable atmosphere for the room.
Touch nightclub in New York with Sensacell system design
The LED panel system attached to the wall contains the high-brightness LED lighting arrays, controlled by
a digital dimmer. The great white lighting array running freely on the background transforming from ice-
blue to warm red, makes me think about the stars in the sky at night. Sensacell is a modern interface
technology with solid state LED lighting for a smart design.
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The bar in Manchester reminds me of the style of late century with simple lighting from the ceiling. The
ceiling spot-light row creates the uniform vertical illuminance for the background, while the halogen
light row with patterned lamp shades creates the playful shadows on the surface and warms up the
atmosphere for the room. The bar was decorated with wooden furniture and crude-brick walls, creates
a classic and elegant mood for the space.
The lobby of a hotel or restaurant introduces directly an overview of the theme and the atmosphereof
that place to the newcomers. The lighting should be soft and comfortable,provides a relaxed feeling for
a good communication. The light must satisfy each important area, such as the reception and the
counter require a personnel and visibility of the person opposite, the private zones need to be
highlighted for orientation and quiet seating areas.
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The lobby was designed with marble walls, granite floor and high ceiling to create an open space. The
projector lighting was used to create a background, while ceiling spot-light produces a brilliant light for
the workplace. The spot-light overhead at the seating area and the halogen light running along the
reception reflects on the floor and made the room brighter and larger. The wall lamps produced a direct
general lighting for the background at the corner.
This is the most popular lighting concept used for many receptions. The ceiling spotlights are used for
the reception table and the big ceiling lamps in the middle or along the ceiling will be designed for the
entrance and the waiting area. In Darius Grand Hotel, the square ceiling lamps with simple design and
halogen tube underneath created a luxury and classic atmosphere for the space, while the big glass
ceiling window gets the natural light directly from outside. That is a good combination between the
natural and modern taste for the room.
On the way to the room, the corridor’s lighting will take the customers to the rooms. It should provide
the guests with a comfortable feeling and a suitable ambience. Some lighting effects can produce the
rhythm for the corridor. Furthermore, the spotlights are also used to highlight the flower vases,
scuptures or paintings for decoration along the way to attract the customers. The lighting control
system is useful not only for the ecommercial point but also to save energy in the morning. The hotel
room lighting can be compared to the lighting for private space, that requires a relaxed and comfortable
atmosphere. The lighting of hotel rooms require a balance of focal glow, ambient luminescence and a
play of brilliance. The light must be soft, bright enough for sleeping and a glare-free light for reading.
The room is stunning with the sleeping lamps. The large window provides the room not only a nice view
outside but also a brilliant natural and fresh light for the room in the morning. The white halogen light
gives the room a modern and luxury taste and a relaxed feeling.
In Nordic Light Hotel, the customers can have a different taste of a colourful lighting in the room. It has
a creative and fantastic lighting effect, suitable for the people who like leisure, relaxing and
entertainment. The bed has two projection lights for reading and changing colour lighting built
underneath the wall to create a playful background. The ceiling projector with many different shapes
and colours makes the space lively. However, the light still brings to the customers a comfortable feeling
to enjoy their journey.
Besides the restaurants, receptions and conferences, event room is one of the important lines for the
business of hotels. The lighting requires a brilliant light for communication, note-taking and the meals.
On the other hand, the lighting also requires different light scenes for different purposes, such as the
low general lighting allows the audiences to take notes, the spotlight to highlight the stage, for eye-
catching in the presentation , a warm light colour from low-voltage halogen for a nice meal.
The wellness area lighting should provide the customers with a relaxing atmosphere to releive the stress
of the day. Natural light brings a fresh feeling and diffuse light creates a soft mood, while coloured
lighting provides further impressive effects.
Treehouse Spa
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The spa interior was designed with wooden furniture and wide windows, creates a relaxed atmosphere
from the natural light and fresh air outside. On the other hand,the warm yellow halogen combining
with candle-light produce a romantic atmosphere for the space. In many countries, they use the senses
as a psychology treatment, such as using candles, natural incense to relieve stress and relax.
Palm Springs, California
In the hotels and resorts, spot-lights are usually used for the outside area. The light beams from the
bottom of the swimming pool creates the sparkling reflection light on the water surface and produce a
great blue colour for the water at night. The yellow spotlights create the illusion of sunlight at night and
make the scene colourful.
Indoor and outdoor transition area of hotels and restaurants is the first and the most crucial impression
from afar before entering into the building. The lighting for both garden and driveways is a nice
welcoming gesture inviting the guests to their hotel. It also provides the signal showing the way for the
customers to enter the hotel at night. The recessed floor luminaires are used to highlight the garden ,
wall mounted luminaires accents the pathways. The entrance of the hotels are usually large and
highlighted by the LED downlights to present a welcoming invitation to the reception.
In contrast to the restaurant lighting, the canteen requires a general lighting for a large communication
and self-service. It includes different zones that the customers can choose and serve their own meals.
The lighting should be suitable for each area such as the salad bar, hot food, desserts and snacks. On the
other hand, the lighting colour should be designed to enhance the food appearance without changing
their natural colours. To solve that problem, the designer can use the suitable filters for each area to
transmit the light, such as the warm colour filters for fruit and a natural white colour for the green
vegetables. Spotlights provide a brilliant light for the food selection sections. The direct natural lighting
or indirect ceiling lighting is useful for for the general lighting purpose of the eating space.
As the fast development of the world architecture and interior design, the lighting industry and
technology grow rapidly to satisfy the needs of the market. The lighting is one of the most important
factors in any design. It has a magic beauty and also a strength for communication, psychology
treatment, entertainment and also atmosphere creation. Lighting makes the space lively or relaxed,
extended or miniatured. Maybe the same lamps used in different ways can produce the different
atmosphere for different purpose areas in hospality for example the spotlights can be used for the
reception to communicate the people, used for the lobby to welcome the guests or used for the
swimming pool to bring out the beautiful blue colour at night. Thus, that is the reason why lighting is
indispensable part of the hospitality.
References:
Erco. 2009. Lighting Handbook-ERCO Light and Hospitality. America. Available from:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/18775858/Lighting-Handbook-ERCO-Light-and-Hospitality [Accessed 7th
November 2009]
Bruni, F. 2005. Japanese Chic, With Volumn Turned Up. The Newyork Times. Available from:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/25/dining/reviews/25rest.html?pagewanted=all [ Accessed 7th
November 2009]
Fernekes, L. and Hannerz, J.( 2004) Sensacell modular sensor surface. Available from:
http://www.sensacell.com/ [Accessed 7th November 2009]