Page 46 - Enlightenment Magazine - July 2013

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Feature LabeL Heretanding hosPitality ProJects

re-working renders to show the project team our
intent and variation of moods. While that is very
time-consuming, it is well worth the efort as a
communication tool. Seeing the intent layered
onto a render is invaluable. Documentation is
obviously important, but equally important is the
site atendance and fnal commissioning that is
where the magic happens.

EM: Tell us a bit more about the design process.
SB: When any new team member joins Illuminate, I
always tell them that you have to listen. The client
will have their own vision, and the design team
members will undoubtedly have theirs. You have to
listen to each and try to ensure that you cover the
major elements. Being a lighting designer is just as
much about problem-solving as it is about design.
Design is an evolution only constrained by the
creative fow of the team. Of course, on every
project you face a fresh set of challenges that
require you to adapt a design to work with site
constraints and the evolving design. This can be
from simplifying a detail to changing a fxture.

EM: What are some of the concerns that occur with
lighting a restaurant or other hospitality project?
toP: Lighting helps SB: Its a mater of lighting fundamentals. Any
make the reception lighting designer must answer the following ques-
area of the Hotel
Indigo in Shanghai tions: Where do I want the light? What quality of
visually dramatic. light? Where can I mount the light? What is the
light fxture I need to achieve all this?
right: A spectacular For a restaurant, this usually pertains to the
crystal chandelier
makes an aesthetic bufet/cooking display and the dining tables. A
statement in a restaurant is not so much about revealing a space
stunning hotel in as it is about concentrating on the dining experi-
Nantong, China. ence. A hotel lobby requires the guest to fully
understand the space, creating a wow factor on
their arrival, and then drawing the focus to the
check-in desks.

EM: What are some of Illuminates future
projects?
SB: We have several exciting projects running at
the moment. We are in the fnishing stages of a
luxurious Grand Hyat in Shenyang, China, plus an
evocative Rafes Hotel in Istanbul. We have just
started on a new two new casino hotels in Macau
and we also have a wonderful resort hotel project
in Sri Lanka, plus a large mixed development in
Tianjin, China, to name but a few. We are looking
forward to a very exciting year ahead.

44 enLIGHTenment Magazine | July 2013 www.enlightenmentmag.com