The Intercontinental hotel in Park Lane has undergone an extensive refurbishment to public areas and rooms. It partially re-opened for business late in 2006 and is currently undergoing the final room and Spa refurbishment phasing which will complete the £60M refurbishment.

dpa lighting consultants in association with London based interior designers J2 design (interior public areas) and Reardon Smith Associates ( Public, external and landscape areas). Building Services Group BSG provided the mechanical and electrical design along with GW Franklins on the electrical installation.

dpa had designed the lighting 15 years ago and had the unique opportunity to help bring the hotel up to a contemporary 21st century style.

The lighting seamlessly works with the interior design and compliments each space with appropriate accent, subtlety or bold lighting presence where needed. The following areas have been transformed with sensitive lighting, carefully designed and selected interior elements and unique interior features that are oozing with lighting opportunity.

Entrance and Port Cochere & External Façade Lighting
This area was a challenge as it had various architectural restrictions where careful integration of lighting into the walls and pavement were essential to provide impact, volume and ensure this “under croft” was not dull and gloomy both during the day and at night. A careful balance of specific accenting to focal areas such as the entrance and the feature linear trough to the entire length of the driveway link the interior spaces beyond. Impactful signage also helps to maintain brand presence. Although the external façade lighting is incomplete, a few lighting components have already been installed.

The external lighting is controlled on an iLight architectural lighting control system which is on a time clock to ensure energy is kept to a minimum and tungsten lighting dimmed where appropriate to the entrance interior and exterior “overlap”.

Reception, lobby Lounge and Bar
The lobby has undergone a dramatic transformation with a wonderful feature pendant / chandelier welcoming guests on entry. This is supported by 3 smaller versions leading through to the lounge and bar. Behind the reception backlit feature panels float from the wall with resin motifs of London glowing through the solid stone face.

A minimal use of down lights ensures that the ceiling is clean and attention is drawn through to the various spaces in the lounge and bar.

Lighting control played a huge role in providing the flexibility of these spaces and the desired ambience required throughout the various times of the day. Again the time clock linked to the lighting control system helps the hotel run seamlessly and with no need for staff to be involved at any point as the astronomical time clock takes care of this.

Leading the opposite direction to the bar is the “destination restaurant” Theo Randall at The InterContinental. The entrance is a glowing corridor welcoming guests through to its intimate interior. Lighting is used here to provide backlighting to various materials and accent tables objects and art. Again the key to the lighting success here is the ability to control each lighting component and provide focal points within the interior.

Cook Book Café
Again this space has been transformed to a bright, vibrant and exciting interior with a thoughtful and expressive lighting design and excellent interior space. Lighting control allows areas close to windows to be controlled separately from those further away and maintain a comfortable balance and ensure energy is not wasted unnecessarily.

Floating ceiling and wall planes lighten the space visually and provide ambient lighting, which is complimented by accent lighting to tables, artwork and displays.

Meeting and Function Rooms
These rooms have a modern and traditional twist with a number of element (including lighting) being retained. Original 60’s doors and chandeliers are retained and complimented by contemporary interior elements. We proposed that the crystal chandeliers have a contemporary “shade” covering the chintzy gold frame. This maintains the grandeur of the chandelier but takes the space into this century and with very little cost.

Ballroom
By saving the money on the chandeliers, we spent it on making the ballroom a spectacular space with colour change lighting niches, coffers had the old Xenon removed in lieu of colour change cold cathode all of which was able to transform back to a more conservative white light scene.

Remote control lighting points replaced the traditional track spots to remove clutter from the ceiling and white contrasting LED lighting bands wrap around the feature columns to the rooms perimeter.

Again, the importance of the lighting control system is paramount to the success of a space like this. Without the intelligent control system most of the lighting elements and treatments could not be realised.