DoubleTree by Hilton Bath City

Susan Lake Lighting Design recently completed the DoubleTree by Hilton, which is situated in the heart of the historic spa town of Bath. To make the most of this modern hotel’s location, the interior designers ICA took inspiration from the city’s illustrious past to introduce features evoking traditional elegance and romantic charm, while adapting and enlarging the space to meet contemporary needs.

Our brief was to devise a lighting scheme to complement the design aspiration of giving the hotel an air of refinement.

In reception, recessed floor uplights enrich the grain of the timber wall panels and give the ceiling a soft radiance, while the halo from concealed lighting behind the traditional key and post boxes, adds to the dramatic backdrop. Three decorative pendants, framed by light within their ceiling coffers, complement the soft, floor-level lighting.

The mood of the adjacent bar area is created by concealed and linear LED. Light washing the bar front, combines with concealed light within the bottle displays at the back of the bar to offer an inviting focal point that draws people into the space.

Soft, linear LED below the banquette seating balances the sparkle of the chandeliers above the tables. Concealed LED within displays of feather artwork complements the effect.

In the restaurant area, pools of light create an appealing atmosphere for diners. Decorative pendants, set in coffers framed with linear LED, enhance the impression of ceiling height. Light from linear LED washes the perimeter walls, and uplights the wall panels and artwork collection. The surrounding shelving displays are softly lit by concealed LED.

In the adjoining Secret Garden Restaurant, a previously blocked-off glazed roof was revealed, and the space adorned with lush vegetation. This ambience is the culmination of the biophilic element of the interior design, offering calm relaxation in today’s world, while reflecting Bath’s reputation for healing in its heyday as a spa town.

Soft, indirect light picks out the vegetation, and linear LED emphasises the pitched glazed ceiling. Lanterns and sparkling festoon lights illuminate the space and are mirrored in the glazing above. Low-level, floor-recessed uplights highlight the columns, framing the view with light.

This biophilic aspect is continued in the exterior terrace, where the pergola is draped with planting, while festoon lights provide soft illumination from above and fairy lights, integrated into the surrounding trellis, create a sparkly backdrop.

The result of this project has been to transform the DoubleTree by Hilton from simply a modern, city-centre hotel into a haven serving the needs the 21st Century visitor, while paying tribute to Bath’s long history as a city of culture.

Please see more images of the project in the projects section of the website.