MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY Department of Architecture
HOTELS & RESTAURANTS LIGHTING DESIGN GUIDE ARCH 489 LIGHTING IN ARCHITECTURE Abdullah Zamir | Güney Gürsu Tonkal | Merve Uslu
Table of Contents I. Introduction ......................................................................................... 2 A. What is a Hotel? ............................................................................ 2 B. Definitions & Descriptions ............................................................3 C. Standards ....................................................................................... 4 II. Entrance ................................................................................................5 III.
Reception .......................................................................................... 6
IV.
Lounge/Lobby ................................................................................... 8
V. Conference Room ................................................................................ 9 VI.
Kitchen ............................................................................................. 10
VII. Restaurant ......................................................................................... 11 VIII. Rooms ............................................................................................... 14 A. Basic Room.................................................................................... 15 B. Family Room ................................................................................. 16 C. Luxury Room/Suite ...................................................................... 17 IX.
Toilets & Bathrooms ........................................................................ 18
X. Corridors & Hallways ......................................................................... 19 XI.
Staircases ......................................................................................... 20
XII. Elevators ........................................................................................... 21 XIII. Balconies ..........................................................................................22 XIV. Parking Lot .......................................................................................22 XV. Conclusion ....................................................................................... 23 XVI. References ....................................................................................... 24
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I.
INTRODUCTION A. What is a Hotel? A hotel is a combination of many spaces in varying functions. In a hotel
the essential parts are rooms, lobby, reception, entrance and circulation parts such as corridors, staircases and elevators. Apart from those spaces, there can be restaurant/s, kitchen/s and/or kitchenette, conference room/s, balconies, parking lot and recreation spaces such as pool, spa, gardens etc. This report contains lighting solutions and suggestions for: 1. Entrance 2. Reception 3. Lobby/Lounge 4. Conference Room 5. Kitchen 6. Restaurant 7. Rooms (Basic Room, Family Room, Luxury Room) 8. Toilets & Bathrooms 9. Corridors & Hallways 10. Staircases
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11. Elevators 12. Balconies 13. Parking Lot
B. Definitions & Descriptions Some of the terms that were used in this report and their definitions are: 1. Black Hole Effect: Visual noise coming from reflections of glass in the day or in the night. Mirror effect due to the contrast difference between two spaces. 2. Color Rendering Index: It is a measure of how well light sources render color. 3. Color Temperature: Temperature of the color a lamp produces. 4. Glare: A phenomenon caused by the brightness of any object within the visual field which is brighter than the adaptation level of the eye. 5. Lux: The SI unit of illuminance, equal to one lumen per square meter.
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C. Standards For a hotel design there are some pre-determined standards and norms can be found. The following table indicated the lux and color rendering index values for different spaces of a hotel. NAME
LUX
CRI
NOTES
Entrance
200
80
Where the first impression is given.
Reception
300
80
Should be comfortable for receptionist.
Lobby/Lounge
200
80
Should have the proper ambiance for the guests.
Conference Room
500
80
Flexible space for various events.
Kitchen
500
80
Should be comfortable for workers.
Restaurant
200
80
Ambiance is important.
Rooms
200
90
Broad possibilities of moods and events.
Toilets/Bathrooms
150
80
Comfort of the guests is important.
Corridors/Hallways 100
80
Basic environment should be visible.
Staircases
100
80
Steps should be visible.
Elevators
150
90
Should be impressive and comfortable for guests.
Balconies
100
80
Relaxing space for the guests.
Parking Lot
75
80
Basic environment should be visible.
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II. ENTRANCE Entrance in a hotel is where the first impression is given to the guests. Entrance is a space that directs the guests towards the hotel. It should be inviting, and it should give an idea about the hotel to the visitors. In terms of lighting, it is recommended that the entrance is bright enough and provides clear sight for the visitors. If the hotel has a theme it should be considered in terms of lighting design as well. If there’s glazing on the façade, black hole effect must be taken into consideration and the contrast between inside and outside should be reduced to get rid of that effect. Also, glare must be prevented on glazed surfaces for a better sight. The lighting solutions for an entrance of a hotel can be explained as the following: General Lighting must be inserted for an even distribution of light and to create a basic understanding of the environment. Accent Lighting is recommended to highlight the name of the hotel and to direct the guests inside the hotel. Architectural
Lighting
is
recommended
to
emphasize
architectural features of the entrance such as columns, arcade, walkway etc.
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The recommended color temperature of an entrance is neither too warm nor too cool, since too warm light will make the space look smaller while too cool light will make people feel uncomfortable.
III. RECEPTION Reception is where the registration to the hotel is made and it gives the first impression about the hotel together with the entrance. Entrance and reception should be distinct yet integrated. Reception should be comfortable both for the receptionist and the guest. It is the place where the guests are in contact with the management for the first time so both the receptionist and the guest should be able to see the other’s face. Glazed and reflective surfaces should be taken into consideration and glare must be prevented. The suggested lighting solutions for reception are the following: General Lighting is a must to define the basic environment. Task Lighting is highly recommended for the reception desk so that the receptionist can have the maximum comfort on his/her task.
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 Cove Lighting is recommended to illuminate the ceiling and lower the contrast between the objects and the surrounding elements. Contrast between illuminated surfaces should be low for the eye to adapt quickly.  Wall Lighting is recommended at the back of the reception to create a more comfortable sight for the guest.  The recommended color temperature is warm temperatures rather than the cool ones, yet it can be cool depending on the environment and the theme. However, the integration between entrance and the reception are should be considered while designing.
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IV. LOUNGE/LOBBY Lobby/Lounge is where the guests mostly sit and wait. Lobbies also contain circulation areas for people to reach the elevators and/or to the reception desk. In terms of lighting design, it is important that a lobby should create a cozy atmosphere. Also, the role of natural lighting shouldn’t be underestimated since it is a good element to contribute the cozy atmosphere. Lobbies can be colorful depending on the design so in that case the placement of light sources should be considered regarding the reflections of those objects. The suggested actions for lighting design of lobbies can be explained as following: General Lighting should provide enough light to distinguish the objects and decorations in the lobby. Ambient Lighting is recommended for specific areas such as sitting area and waiting area. Cove Lighting can illuminate the ceiling and create a soft look. Architectural Lighting is suggested to illuminate and highlight the circulation so that it can be directive for the guests.
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 Color temperature is recommended to be warm and the lighting level should be lower than the reception area so that a cozy atmosphere can be achieved.  High color rendering is recommended in case of colored objects and decorations in the lobby.
V.
CONFERENCE ROOM Conference room in hotels is a flexible space where various events can
take place. There can be meetings, conferences, presentations etc. Depending on these activities, lighting installations should also be flexible and adjustable. It should be illuminated more than the other spaces like lobby, rooms, restaurant etc. Also, lighting should be considered together
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with the furniture layout for maximum efficiency. Suggested actions for conference room lighting design are the following: General Lighting is necessary for the basic lighting design purposes together with events like presentations. Task Lighting is recommended for the maximum comfort for the users in case a meeting is happening in the room. Accent Lighting is optionally can be installed for conferences or to highlight the decorative elements in the room. No natural light is required since it is hard to control for a flexible space. Cooler color temperatures can be preferred since it is a working environment.
VI. KITCHEN Kitchen is where the restaurant’s food is prepared. It is an important element in hotel organization because if the food comes bad from the kitchen then it will affect the guests. In terms of lighting design, a kitchen should be like a “surgery room” for chefs. High amount of details should be visible so lux level should be enough to see enough details. Glare and PAGE 10
the risk of glare should be considered since in kitchens, there can be many reflective surfaces which can cause glare. Also, the placement of light sources should allow a flexible furniture layout. The following actions can be done for the lighting systems of a kitchen: General Lighting is required to illuminate the environment. Task Lighting is recommended for the counters and various actions which can be done on counters such as cutting, mixing, decorating etc. Direct sunlight should be avoided because of both risk of glare and risk of spoiling cooking elements. The temperature of light is recommended to be either neutral or cool because it is a working environment.
VII.
RESTAURANT Restaurant in a hotel should be attractive for the guests and should look
stylish. It should have an ambiance for the guests to feel more comfortable and cozier. The different components of a restaurant such as cashier area, self-service buffet area, circulation paths should be considered while
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designing the lighting. Suggested lighting design solutions for a restaurant can be shown as following: General Lighting, as always, is required to illuminate the general environment. The distribution of light falling on tables, surfaces should be even. It also should allow people to see their tables and each other’s faces clearly. Ambient Lighting is recommended to create the atmosphere that will suit to the hotel’s theme. It would be a good idea if each table has its own light source either on top of it or near it for even distribution of light purposes. Architectural Lighting is recommended to highlight certain areas such as paths, cashier area, circulation etc. Cove Lighting is recommended to illuminate the ceiling and create a soft look. Natural light enhances the features of the restaurant if it is used and controlled properly. However, in that case adjustable lighting installations is recommended to avoid possible black hole effects caused by the contrast between inside and outside.
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For the ambiance purposes, warm color temperature is recommended. In case of self-service restaurants, the lighting installations’ positioning and placement should highlight where the buffet serves. Also, the buffet should have proper installations to highlight the food and attract the guests.
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VIII. ROOMS Rooms in a hotel can have various design as well as various functions for different occasions. Mostly rooms are preferred in a cozy atmosphere. However, depending on the occasion they can be designed differently. In general, all rooms in common should have the following features in terms of lighting design: General Lighting is a must to create a basic understanding of the environment. It can be in a lower brightness level than the other spaces to achieve the soft look. Task Lighting is recommended near to bed/s and/or work surfaces like desk/s if there is any. Natural light enhances the experience in the room so it should be used effectively. Color temperature is recommended to be warm to create a soft and cozy ambiance. Since the guests in hotel rooms use the room for short periods of time, there is no harm on fixing the lighting installations considering the furniture layout.
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Glare on TV screens and reflective surfaces must be prevented. Color rendering index is recommended to be high for the maximum comfort of the guests. Depending on the types of rooms, these lighting solutions may differ or may be more. The following solutions are recommended for different types of rooms:
A. Basic Room Basic rooms are the rooms that are defined as default setting of a room with some fundamental necessary equipment. They are mostly used by most of the society and can have different occasions so it can be said that basic rooms should be flexible both in terms of lighting design and function. Here are some extra recommendations for the lighting design of a basic room: Task Lighting should be provided for the desks (if there is any) for flexible and maximum efficient use of desks. Sleeping area should have lower illuminance either as the quality of light source or as the quantity of light sources.
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The flexible use of light sources should be arranged with the quantity of switches. Enough number of switches should control the light sources to achieve the maximum efficiency for a flexible use.
B. Family Room Family room in a hotel is rather more complex than a basic room since it may contain a kitchenette, living area and different rooms. These types of rooms are used mostly by families for a relatively longer duration. Since family rooms have different parts for different activities lighting installations can be more fixed rather than flexible. The following recommendations can be applied for the lighting design of a family room: Task Lighting is recommended for the kitchenette area, tables, and desks. Mood Lighting can be applied in various parts of the room such as bedroom, living area to create different ambiances. Warm color temperature is recommended together with the low illuminance for the bedroom.
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Living area should have a higher illuminance level than the bedroom which can be created with additional cove lighting or wall lighting installations.
C. Luxury Room/Suite Luxury rooms in a hotel can be used for some special occasions and/or by important people. They usually have high amount of decorations together with a fine level of architectural details. Since they are used for special occasions and/or by important people, there may be a set of rooms which may have different functions such as bedroom, meeting room, kitchen, living area, office etc. Apart from the basic requirements of lighting design in rooms, the following applications are recommended in terms of lighting design in luxury rooms: Accent Lighting is recommended to highlight the decorative elements in the room like paintings, sculptures etc. Architectural Lighting can be applied if there are architectural features in the room like columns.
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Task Lighting is required for working areas and/or spaces to create maximum concentration. Natural lighting should be emphasized and integrated more than the other types of rooms since luxury rooms are placed higher levels of the building. Adjustable lighting installations is required for the variety of occasions. Kitchen and bar area should be highlighted to give the luxury effect.
IX. TOILETS & BATHROOMS Toilets and bathrooms are as important as room design in a hotel. They should create a relaxing atmosphere for the guests and the design should be integrated with the rest of the room. As well as architectural design, lighting design helps to create the integration between rooms and bathrooms. The following recommendations are for the lighting design of a hotel toilet and bathroom:
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General lighting is required to illuminate the area. However, when placing the light sources, the locations of shower basin and bathtub must be considered. Sink and counters should be well illuminated with task lighting. Shower area should be illuminated indirectly, and no light source should be on top of the shower basin. Accent Lighting should be placed either on top of the mirror or with the mirror for a person to see high amount of details. Glare on the mirror should be prevented and lighting layout should be considered together with the reflectance of the surfaces. High
color
temperature
and
low
illuminance
level
is
recommended to enhance the overall atmosphere.
X.
CORRIDORS & HALLWAYS Corridors and hallways are one of the elements forming the circulation
in a hotel. They should be directing people and it should make people navigate easier in the hotel. Lighting design is a way to create a directing
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space for the people. The following design recommendations can be applied in corridors and hallways in a hotel: Lighting installations should allow people to see the basic environment. Valance Lighting can be used to illuminate the walls and make the space look larger if it is too narrow. Cove Lighting is optional to illuminate the ceiling in cases of too narrow hallways. Placement of luminaires should be considered according to the width and height of the hallway so they shouldn’t be placed too close to each other or too far from each other.
XI. STAIRCASES Staircases are another component of the circulation in a hotel and they should be properly illuminated. The following actions can be done to illuminate staircases: Every step should be visible which can be created by accent lighting in a lower luminance level.
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Light sources should be placed in every or every second step to create a safe environment. Color rendering index is not a vital element in the lighting design of staircases as long as the staircases are safe for people to see the basic environment.
XII. ELEVATORS Elevators are the most important part of circulation in hotels since most of the guests use the elevators to travel between floors. In some cases, elevators are being used as a decorative element to impress the visitors. For the attraction of visitors, the lighting design should also be impressive in the elevators. The following recommendations are for a better environment in elevators in terms of lighting: Accent Lighting to illuminate the entrance of the elevators, so that it would attract and direct visitors towards the elevator. Daylight should be imitated with the proper color temperature, most likely neutral, for people to feel safe inside. Interior should be illuminated in a higher amount, but it shouldn’t be over-illuminated. PAGE 21
Glare should be considered in case of having mirror inside. Ceiling should be illuminated to create the illusion of a larger space.
XIII. BALCONIES Balconies in a hotel create a connection between indoors and outdoors and it is mostly used for relaxing purposes both in daytime and nighttime. Lighting design of balconies shouldn’t be skipped in the hotels since they have a potential to enhance the user experience. The recommended lighting solutions for the balconies are as following: Soft and warm lights should be preferred to support the overall ambiance. Black hole effect should be prevented by reducing the contrast between indoors and outdoors. For this reason, diffused light sources should be preferred.
XIV. PARKING LOT If the hotel has an underground parking lot, only general lighting is enough just to enable visitors to see the basic environment. PAGE 22
XV. CONCLUSION In conclusion, a hotel should contain some basic spaces like entrance, lobby, reception, rooms and circulation parts like corridors, elevators and staircases. However, for a better user experience there can be some recreation spaces, restaurant, kitchenette, balconies and conference rooms etc. A hotel must be designed in an integrated way since there are various spaces. Another point while designing a hotel is energy efficiency. For energy efficiency reasons. Energy efficient bulbs should be preferred to reduce energy consumption. Also, the role of daylight should not be underestimated, and it should be used well-integrated with the overall design and lighting design.
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XVI.
REFERENCES Ataylar, F. (2019, March). Lighting Objectives, Lighting Parameters. Lecture
presented at ARCH489 Lighting in Architecture in METU,
Department of Architecture, Ankara. European Comission (n.d.). How to Design Great Lighting In a Hotel Or a Restaurant While Reducing Energy Consumption? Retrieved May 27, 2019, from http://ec.europa.eu/environment/emas/takeagreenstep/ 09-article.html Skansi, R. (2018). Hotel Lighting Project Handbook (Published master's thesis). Posters for South Bank Hotel London [Photograph]. (n.d.). South Bank Hotel, London.
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