Prize(s) Honorable Mentions
Lighting Design/Product Company Xavio Design
Lead Designers Alessandra Bertolini
Other Designer's names Agnieszka Szubert, Elle Elks Herrmannsen, Giacomo Caratelli, Rebecca Richards, Theofili Machairidi
Architecture Company Kentie en Partners Architecten, Lead Architects
Interior Design Company Bowler James Brindley, ID Public Areas / Stylt Trampoli, ID Guestrooms
Client Archer Hotel Capital
Photo Credits Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel Marketing & Communication
Other Credits TechniPlan Adviseur, MEP Systems Design Linthorst Techniek, Electrical Contractor
Completion Date 01/04/2025
Project Location Amsterdam, Netherlands
Entry DescriptionThe lighting design for the Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel is a carefully layered response to local stories, tactile materials, and immersive spaces.
Guided by themes like Finding the Light, Biophilic Dreams, Floating Florals, and Amber is the New Red Light, it reinterprets Amsterdam’s cultural and historic identity through natural forms, organic growth, and warmth. Concealed and integrated sources follow the rhythm of materials, joinery, and structure, blending seamlessly with architecture and finishes. In public areas, timber ceilings with LED strips echo natural contours and link interiors to the cityscape. Amber glows and sculptural pendants nod to the red-light heritage, reimagined with elegance. The palette balances contrast, shadow, and textur; wall sconces in ribbed leather or etched glass explore translucency, while LEDs behind perforated steel add playfulness and depth. Bespoke floral lamps and decorative pieces infuse artistic storytelling, referencing Amsterdam’s iconic elms and enriching the overall narrative. During post-pandemic value engineering, the team focused light only where it added true value. Statement pieces were placed in key areas, with repurposed, upcycled, and locally sourced fittings maintaining character. The result proves thoughtful placement, not quantity, creates depth, drama, and impact.
Sustainability ApproachSustainability is woven into the concept through low-energy LED technology and the use of dimmable and zoned control systems. These solutions enhance operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact while maintaining design intent.
The lighting scheme challenges industry norms by rejecting generic, grid-based layouts in favour of expressive, site-specific interventions. It celebrates the beauty of Amsterdam’s imperfect forms, enhances local identity, and focuses on the interplay of light with material, space, and memory. The internal leaves cladding installation, which “grows toward the light” of the skylight, captures the poetic and experiential ambition of the design.
Ultimately, this project raises the standard of hospitality lighting design—showing how thoughtful, sustainable, and emotionally resonant lighting can elevate a space, even within tight financial parameters.
