Last autumn a brand new Van der Valk hotel opened its doors in Tilburg. It is a beautiful building, with a stunning interior. Every detail has been taken into account. Naturally, the same had to apply to the lighting for hotel Van der Valk.
Element of homeliness
Pierre Thielen, Utilicht’s technical lighting consultant, was involved in the construction from the very beginning: “One of the biggest challenges faced by new-build hotels is to introduce an element of homeliness. Despite spaces that are often large, guests should feel at ease immediately. Although a well thought-out lighting plan makes a world of difference, the choice of the correct luminaires is the critical factor.”
Small, with enough power
Together with the customer, Utilicht developed a huge chandelier. This is a bespoke piece, guaranteed to draw attention. For the remaining hotel lighting, Van der Valk wanted a flexible and above all modest solution. Pierre: “That meant that the luminaires could not be large or striking; rather, a lighting solution in which the luminaires play a supporting role. The luminaires had to be small, but still with enough power to create a lot of atmospheric lighting. That’s when I knew that Karizma Luce would be the perfect solution.”
Quiet and exclusive atmosphere
The choice fell on the pivotable downlights Gemello, Dolcemente, Solo and the pendant luminaire Perla. According to Pierre, this was the logical choice not only because of their elegant and compact design, but also because of their performance: “Without good supporting technology, a good design will be of no use. Despite their small size, these luminaires deliver exactly the type of light we had in mind. Without being conspicuous, they contribute to the quiet and exclusive atmosphere.”
Sustainable lighting
But a chic appearance and high-quality performance were not the only factors on Pierre’s wish list: he also wanted the lighting to meet the stringent requirements of BREEAM Excellent (the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for buildings). This was non-negotiable for Van der Valk. Pierre: “Atmospheric lighting and BREEAM efficiency are often at loggerheads with one another. But with this project, we have been able to bring the two together – to the customer’s satisfaction, because Van der Valk has already asked us to help with new hospitality lighting projects.”
