Crowne Plaza Reading

Crowne Plaza Reading

The Design Brief

Having recently been taken over, the Crowne Plaza in Reading instructed Asco Lights' lighting design team to assist in the refurbishment of the hotel to bring it up to a standard commensurable with other hotels in their group.

The brief called for lighting design, consultancy and product supply to achieve a modern clean look for the hotel, to add an element of visual drama to the public areas, and to ensure the extensive use of LED lighting to produce an energy efficient lighting solution.

The Creative Process

Asco Lights were contacted by the Crowne Plaza's in-house interior designer and in the numerous in-depth meetings that followed the lighting design for the hotel's foyer, bar, restaurant and reception areas were discussed in great detail.

The project was carried out following the steps noted below:

• Step 1:The hotel did not have any formal CAD drawings, which are a basic requirement on any lighting design project, a detailed site survey was undertaken and a complete new set of drawings were created.
• Step 2:The team, in constant consultation with the client and the client's own designers, set about creating a lighting design for this project to meet every requirement of the brief and to inject an element of luxurious luminary splendour to achieve the desired mood and ambient lighting vision for the space.
• Step 3:Asco Lights also recommended other professionals in related fields to enhance the refurbishment plans the client had for the hotel that could offer a more contemporary feel to the space. One such firm was a specialist glass company who were subsequently instructed to design and install several stunning sculptures in the hotel's restaurant.
• Step 4:Throughout the refurbishment project Asco Lights' consultants and lighting design team offered the benefit of their expertise to the hotel's own designers and on-site contractors. Throughout the project their presence on site contributed to a smooth development and a successful outcome.

A Vision Realised

From start to finish Asco Lights contributed to the development of the lighting brief through every stage of the project.  

• LED lighting was incorporated throughout the project in order to achieve the client's longevity and serviceability aspirations. LED lighting was also used to create mood lighting and to make some of the magnificent architectural features of the hotel stand out in a subtle and adaptable way.
• A mix of sumptuousness and practicality was achieved through the use of decorative lighting design in key areas and recessed architectural lighting in others.
• Drama was achieved in the restaurant area with the help of a huge glass lantern featuring several copper spheres of varying sizes hung at different drops that altogether created an intimate cosy feeling of quiet opulence.
• Colour was used to separate different areas of the hotel so customers would be left with no doubt that they were entering a space with a different function and purpose.
• Of course those stunning glass sculptures in the restaurant required careful lighting to bring out their true grandeur, and our client certainly felt that our lighting design accomplished this goal.
• Flexibility was achieved through the use of a recessed ceiling lighting design to allow for any combination of table and seating arrangements, a feature common for most communal areas in most hotels.
• Architectural modern wall lights were utilised along walkways to create interesting visual effects.

Asco Lights work closely with their clients offering a truly end-to-end lighting design and consultation service. There from the conceptualisation of a project through to its completion and able to call upon years of experience to recommend, advise on and supply lighting products from around the world. From inspired lighting design, installation expertise or advice, and support for all of your other professionals on site, Asco Lights are the perfect project partners.

To discuss your project, to arrange to meet with our lighting designers, or simply to arrange to visit our design studio and showroom, please call us on 0161 207 0212 (Manchester) or 0207 118 0242 (London).