How to choose lighting sources for hotels and guesthouses? Hotels and guesthouses are usually divided into business and tourism vacation types. Business hotels are usually located in economically developed cities and serve business travelers, highlighting functions such as office, conference, and business banquets; Tourist vacation hotels are usually located in tourist attractions, highlighting their vacation and leisure functions. But this distinction is relative, and their functions often intersect with each other; In addition, from the perspective of architectural characteristics, the various spaces divided based on functions inside and outside the hotel are generally the same. For example, compared with the Garden Hotel in Guangzhou, the Le Meridien Hotel in Hong Kong Cyberport has very different features, but they both have reception lobbies, i.e. Portman style spaces, various types of rooms, Chinese and Western restaurants, and multifunctional halls. So, from the perspective of hotel lighting design, their commonalities are basically the same.
1.1 Warm white light sources with a color temperature of around 3000K should be widely used. The basis for this is that regardless of the type of hotel, creating a friendly, warm, and welcoming atmosphere should be their common goal, and the lighting environment provided by the 3000K color temperature light source can enhance this characteristic of the hotel.
(1) Based on the study of human visual perception of temperature and spatial perception of color, colors with a hue biased towards orange yellow and colors with a hue biased towards blue purple, when compared at the same time, orange yellow makes people feel warm and close to us; Based on memory, the result is the same when comparing the above colors continuously.
(2) This perception, in terms of deep psychological arousal, is closely linked to psychological evaluations and emotional activities such as familiarity, warmth, and friendliness.
(3) Based on engineering practice, whenever a hotel lighting project can fully implement this principle without interference from various aspects, its effect is very good.
1.2 When the color temperature of the light source is nominally consistent, a specific analysis of the light color of different categories of light sources should be conducted
(1) Taking incandescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps as examples only. A nominal 2800K incandescent lamp and a nominal 2850K (or possibly 2700K) compact fluorescent lamp indicate that their color chart is generally consistent, but there are still slight differences in the evaluation of color (color chart and color are still distinguishable) and color perception: due to their different spectral compositions, the light emitted by incandescent lamps is very similar to cobalt yellow or cadmium yellow watercolor pigments, with a "loud" and "transparent" tone; The light emitted by compact fluorescent lamps looks like earthy yellow, with a slightly cloudy color tone.
(2) So, lighting design should choose the type of light source in a targeted manner. Under the same color temperature conditions, it is necessary to comprehensively weigh whether they are energy-saving in terms of luminous flux and average lifespan, whether they are easy to maintain, and the trade-off between light color. Do not use incandescent lamps just because of "green lighting" (I advocate for a specific analysis and treatment of "green lighting").
(3) For high-end hotels, energy efficiency and ease of maintenance are certainly important. For example, the average lifespan of a good compact fluorescent lamp can reach 10000 hours (while incandescent lamps are only one tenth of it). Although hotels eliminate the cost of replacing light bulbs, they sacrifice "pure light color".
(4) As for the issues of energy conservation and extending the lifespan of light bulbs, based on the current situation in China, a large part can be solved by combining natural lighting and customer activity requirements for brightness, such as the Bank of China headquarters building, through intelligent control systems to adjust the brightness in a timely manner. Of course, there are many energy-saving methods, but they are beyond the scope of this article.
1.3 Pay special attention to the relationship between color temperature and illumination. Utilize the matching relationship between illumination and color temperature to carefully create a suitable spatial atmosphere. Generally speaking, color temperature and illumination should be in direct proportion, that is, high illumination, high color temperature, and vice versa. The habit of lighting design in domestic hotels is often to have high color temperature but generally low illumination, often falling into a "gloomy" atmosphere. This should be given sufficient attention in future design practices.
1.4 If direct lighting is available, indirect lighting should not be used. Light troughs are widely used in various commercial space lighting, and even some are rampant. With the development of electric light sources and lighting fixture manufacturing technology, direct lighting can now avoid the visual hazards of uncomfortable glare. Therefore, unless there are decorative requirements, do not use various types of luminous troughs that waste light and are inconvenient to maintain.
1.5 Use light sources with the same color temperature to avoid disorderly light colors in the same functional area, surface, and object. Use light sources with consistent color temperature to make the color tone of the lighting environment uniform. As for the lighting design of the hotel, since the emphasis is not on conflict and drama, a unified color tone is in line with the characteristics of the hotel. We have noticed that some excellent interior design companies in China still have many issues in this regard. For example, the Chimelong Hotel project is very good in other aspects, but there are still some lighting issues: some rooms use cold white light sources; Some guest rooms have both warm white and cool white light sources, which make people feel uncomfortable.
1.6 Choose lighting fixtures with high luminous efficiency
(1) Select lighting fixtures with optimized parameters and high light utilization efficiency. We often encounter situations where the nominal total luminous flux of the light source is very high, but due to the use of lamps with low luminous output efficiency, the theoretically calculated illuminance value differs greatly from the actual measured result using an illuminance meter after completion.
(2) It is recommended to entrust a unit with relevant testing equipment to conduct testing when there is doubt about the efficiency parameters, light distribution curve parameters, etc. provided by the lighting fixture manufacturer.
1.7 Choose appropriate light distribution for different functional areas of the wine point, and distinguish the light intensity distribution, center light intensity, and half light intensity parameters of the light distribution curve to avoid light loss in both aspects.
(1) For example, the front hall of a wine shop is usually located in the podium of a building, and the ceiling is usually very high. It is common to have a height of more than 6 meters. Lighting fixtures with narrow beam angles and long projection distances are used to prevent the upper part from being too bright, while the brightness of the ground and the activity area of people 1 meter away from the ground is insufficient;
(2) On the contrary, if such lighting is used in areas with low ceilings such as guest rooms, problems such as bright floors and insufficient vertical illumination may occur. The following two figures compare the light distribution of PAR38/80W/beam angle 120 and PAR56/300W/beam angle 400.
The more upscale the hotel, the higher the color rendering index of the light source
(1) The color rendering of light sources is generally evaluated using the CIE color rendering index, which evaluates the differences in color display between the evaluated light source and the standard light source (full shade sky light) for more than 10 color samples, including human skin color. Generally speaking, the higher the Ra of a light source, the better its color rendering.
(2) However, it should be pointed out that because Ra is taken as the average value of the color sample, although some light sources have a high color rendering index, they may not be good at displaying a specific color. This should be taken seriously in hotel lighting design.
(3) In domestic lighting standards and design practices, color rendering has not been given much attention, and it is usually emphasized that high color rendering index light sources are only needed in places with color recognition requirements. In fact, in places where people have more contact with each other, especially hotels, it is very important for guests to show healthy skin color.
(4) In addition, light sources with good color rendering can have lower illumination under the same conditions compared to those with poor color rendering. This is not to say that color rendering can replace some of the illumination, but rather that people need to feel clearer.
The key issues of hotel lighting are far more than the above. This article only addresses the issues that the author believes are currently prominent in lighting design practice, for colleagues in lighting design to consider and discuss.
2. Design of lighting variables for functional areas
Hotel lighting fixtures
2.1 Lobby Space
The lobby space mainly consists of three lighting areas, namely the lighting for the entrance and lobby areas, the lighting for the service counter, and the lighting for the guest lounge area. From the perspective of the lobby as a continuous whole space and lighting methods, in fact, the entrance and lobby should be the general lighting or global lighting of the lobby, while the lighting of the service counter and guest lounge area should be local lighting. These lighting fixtures should maintain consistency in color temperature, and the lighting in the three areas should be compared in brightness to create an interesting, continuous, and undulating light and dark transition in the hotel lobby, which is a non intimate space, creating a warm atmosphere as a whole.
(1) Entrance and front hall. Illumination requirement: The design illumination should reach 500Lux on a horizontal plane 1m above the ground. Color temperature requirement: around 3000K. The color temperature is too low, making the space feel cramped, while the color temperature is too high, resulting in a lack of intimacy and noise in the space, directly reducing guests' sense of comfort. Color rendering requirements: Ra>85。 High color rendering, able to clearly show the skin color and various expressions of receptionists and guests, leaving a deep and satisfactory impression on guests.
Regarding lighting: If the height exceeds 6m, a point light source with a narrow beam of light is used on the ceiling to provide continuous and uniform brightness. Due to the fact that the luminous point is not within the human field of view, the lamp can be open type. Assuming the distance from the ceiling to the ground is 6m, the center light intensity of its light distribution curve should not be less than 500cd at a distance of 1m from the ground; If the high jump does not exceed 6m, a strip or surface shaped illuminated ceiling can be considered for treatment. Using light and shadow contrast to shape: Drawing on the experience of lighting design in European and American hotels, we can consider designing floodlights with different angles in the entrance and lobby areas in the future. If the direction of guests entering the hotel gate is taken as the vertical axis, then side lights can be designed at both ends of the horizontal axis and projected at an angle on the ceiling towards the entrance area. This will help hotel receptionists, baggage handlers, and guests express their form and create a three-dimensional effect. This hotel lighting should be very high-end.
(2) Service front desk. Illumination requirement: Generally, a high brightness of 750-1000Lux is used to highlight the importance of the front desk and quickly direct guests' gaze towards it. In addition, it is also convenient for receptionists to quickly process registration and settlement work. Color temperature requirement: around 3000K, consistent with the entrance lobby, further enhancing the friendly atmosphere. Color rendering requirements: Ra>85。
On the one hand, it is because guests and receptionists have close contact at the service desk and require healthy skin color; On the other hand, it is necessary to clearly identify the various documents required.
(3) Guest lounge area. Illumination requirement: generally 300-500Lux.
If the illumination is too high, human behavior will be unstable, and if the illumination is too low, human behavior will be too lazy. Color temperature requirement: around 3000K. Color rendering requirements: Ra>85
2.2 Restaurant Space
Hotel lighting fixtures
The restaurant space is an important lighting area in the hotel. Generally, hotels have Chinese style restaurants and Western style restaurants. Due to differences in functionality and usage, these two types of restaurants need to be treated separately in lighting design.
(1) Chinese restaurants: commonly used for formal banquets in business or other areas, so the overall atmosphere of lighting should be formal and friendly. The general lighting intensity of Chinese restaurants is much higher than that of Western restaurants; The illumination should be uniform, with little emotional fluctuations caused by brightness contrast; Point light sources, strip light sources, or various types of lanterns can all meet good lighting requirements; In order to make the quality and color tone of dishes vivid and attractive, and to stimulate appetite, the lighting of the dining table tabletop is the key. It is best to use high color rendering light sources to set up key lighting above the dining table. If key lighting cannot be provided above each dining table, the general lighting value of the restaurant should be designed to be higher. In addition, high attention should be paid to lighting distribution to make the lighting more three-dimensional. In the practice of restaurant lighting design, we use wall lamps or several floodlights to correct the flatness of general lighting and enhance the reproduction of human form, especially facial expressions and contours, through lighting.
Illumination requirements: The illumination for general lighting is set at 200Lux, and for key lighting it is set at 300Lux. As a supplementary side light, the beam of the light source can be used to reach the illuminated object, with a center light intensity of around 150cd. Color temperature requirement: around 3000K, and requires uniform and coordinated light color. Color rendering requirements: Ra>90。
(2) Western style restaurants: Western style restaurants are often used for informal business dinners or dining places where diners are familiar and close, so the overall atmosphere of their lighting should be warm and romantic; The illuminance value of its general lighting is much lower than that of Chinese style restaurants; In addition, due to the informal nature of dining, it does not require illumination of people's faces and expressions; But the key lighting on the dining table still needs to make the dishes vivid and beautiful, and make it convenient for diners to access, so its color rendering is very important.
Illuminance requirements: The illuminance for general lighting should be 50-100Lux, and for key lighting it should be 100-150Lux. If there is side lighting, the beam of the light source can be used to reach the illuminated object, with a center light intensity of around 50cd. Color temperature requirement: around 3000K, and requires uniform and coordinated light color. Color rendering requirements: Ra>90。
2.3 Room Space
Hotel lighting fixtures
Hotel rooms should be like home, with a typical tone of tranquility, comfort, and warmth. (1) Illumination requirements: The general illumination should be 50-100Lux, and the illumination in guest rooms should be lower to reflect the characteristics of quietness, rest, and even laziness; But local lighting, such as lighting in front of dressing mirrors, bedside reading lighting, etc., should provide sufficient illumination, and these areas can have an illumination value of 300Lux; The most overlooked aspect is the writing lighting of the office desk. Currently, few hotels provide writing desk lamps (usually decorative ones) to guests. As for the hotels I have stayed in, only the Sunshine Hotel in Shenzhen has such lighting, which is a very humanized lighting consideration. (2) Color temperature requirement: around 3000K.
Use light sources below 3500K in the bedroom and above 3500K in the bathroom. Warm color tones are needed in the bedroom, and high color temperature is needed in the bathroom to show cleanliness and freshness. (3) Color rendering requirements: Ra>90。 Good color rendering can increase guests' confidence and make them feel comfortable and good.