With its urban, timeless style and authentic materials, the tall, slim hotel building is a real eye-catcher next to St. Gallen railway station. It welcomes guests in 101 stylish rooms and a Japanese restaurant on the ground floor. In addition to its concrete supporting structure, its facade is made of white-grey clinker brick. Inside, the walls have been partly plastered with clay and lime, which, in combination with the terra blocks and glass bricks used, creates a cosy ambience. 

The smooth transition required from functional lighting to the use of luminaires as a design element was one of the particular challenges of the project. "Designing and implementing project-specific luminaires is always a demanding task, but it provides significant added value for the property in question," says lighting planner Godehardt. He draws attention to the special features of illumination concepts for hotels, where very different uses need to be taken into account: "Of course, the focus is on the guest who wants to feel at home and well cared for, but at the same time the lighting has to meet high design standards and be representative of the building's character. And of course the lighting should also support the operational processes." The sum of these components, combined in a lighting concept, is what makes good light, and having Tulux as a partner not only enabled all of these requirements to be met, but the cost specifications and tight timing of the project could also be managed in the most efficient way, stresses Jonas Godehardt. 

Modular design luminaires as a recurring feature
The intention was clear. The Tailormade Hotel LEO was to be provided with a unique series of luminaires designed specifically for the building, which would not only fulfil all of the aforementioned requirements, but also adorn the building as a recurring feature and underline the architectural language. These findings served as the basis for the lighting concept. Tulux also produced various sample luminaires as part of the process. "These were a relevant piece of the puzzle," says architect Steuri, adding that the search for the optimal transition between functional lighting and innovative design was an important interface throughout the development, with Tulux providing optimal support. 

The newly developed luminaire works on a modular principle, enabling luminaires to be put together to suit the different situations in the hotel. For example, the luminaires in the foyer are more opulent than in the rooms, simpler wall-mounted luminaires were used in the corridors, and simple ceiling spotlights were used for the basic lighting in the suspended ceilings. The overall theme is the globe shape as well as the high-quality materials; handmade glass based on the art of the Murano masters, paired with powder-coated metal. The luminaires were manufactured by Tulux in Tuggen in the canton of Schwyz.

When asked about the special challenges in the production process, designer Stefan Beglinger pointed out the small space available to accommodate the technology needed inside the luminaire: "This was a sticking point that challenged us, because our aim was not to make the lamp look oversized, which we managed to do well in the end." The globe lights also impress with their uniform illumination, made possible by the specially selected lens. The finished series of luminaires consists of a globe luminaire, available as a pendant luminaire and as a ceiling-mounted luminaire in various versions, with the "chandelier" version looking particularly eye-catching in the hotel lobby. The whole concept is completed by lighting which skilfully showcases the room numbers, as well as floor lamps which provide cosy islands of light in the rooms.