eye opener
The BoTree London, UK The external façade of The BoTree, London, situated at the vibrant intersection of Marylebone, Mayfair, and Soho, features a striking central ‘Architectural Feature Lattice’ designed by EPR Architects, which serves as the building’s focal point. Built on the site of a former Brutalist car park, the lattice echoes the former 1960s design by gracefully twisting up from the ground-level entrance, forming a visually protective veil in front of the corner suite terraces and extending up to the crown of the building, where the Presidential Suite is located. The central feature is flanked by two distinct façade styles, designed to complement the local architectural vernacular. On Marylebone Lane, the architecture pays homage to the street’s history with the use of traditional brickwork in darker tones with intricate detailing to give a more intimate scale. This is contrasted by staggered light coloured saw-tooth brick panels to the other façade, adding dynamism and shadow play during the day with natural light. Glass bay windows project rhythmically throughout all three façades, with bronze framing, which provides guests with stunning views of the cityscape, and affords a tapestry of internal illumination. In developing an external envelope lighting strategy for The BoTree, dpa lighting consultants considered the site’s history and conducted visibility studies to fully understand its location and the guest approach. This allowed for thoughtful consideration of the lighting hierarchy and identification of key architectural elements to highlight. Curating a carefully selected palette of lighting techniques that responds to the individuality of the architecture was a key aspect of the lighting design approach, leading dpa lighting consultants to explore custom and bespoke lighting solutions, creating a dynamic yet subtly serene atmosphere for the façade. To ensure the lighting fixtures are seamlessly integrated with the architectural façade, the lighting designers collaborated closely with the architects and manufacturers to choose the appropriate RAL finishes for both the lattice and façade lighting. This approach allowed the fixtures to remain subtle and unobtrusive during the day, while being minimally visible at night. The result was a well-received scheme that provides focus and identity to the hotel with longevity of use and flexibility to accommodate change throughout the year as well as futureproofing a design that can be maintained component by component and controlled throughout the year seamlessly and automatically. www.dpalighting.com
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