LedFlex Lighting Solutions lights up The Londoner Hotel

The Londoner is a sophisticated boutique hotel nestled in London’s world-famous Leicester Square. The hotel offers guests a luxurious stay, with an expansive array of amenities and experiences, as well as the highest levels of comfort and decadence.  

The hotel is the latest project from the UK’s largest family-owned hotel group, Edwardian Hotels London. 350 guest rooms, suites and a stunning tower penthouse with panoramic views are spread over 16 storeys. The Londoner boasts an impressive ballroom perfect for a range of celebrations and occasions, a number of meeting spaces and a Wellness Retreat. 

When it comes to dining, guests are spoilt for choice between casual and upmarket options, including a contemporary Japanese lounge bar with a rooftop terrace and fire pit. 

The architecture for the hotel was a collaboration between Edwardian Hotels London’s Design Architect, Rob Steul and architectural firm Woods Bagot. The brief was to create a design concept that celebrated the hotel’s positioning in Leicester Square, with a ‘West Side Story’ narrative to underpin the guest experience. Interior designers Yabu Pushelberg, engineers Arup Associates and artist Ian Monroe were also part of the expert team.

Due to strict planning, restrictions limited any upwards build. Eight of the 16 storeys form the capital’s deepest habitable basement. The bedrooms and suites remain above street level, while the guest attractions and services are housed in the lower floors with no natural light.

With an expansive space to consider, and the vast array of different spaces for varied purposes, a bespoke lighting design was key. Inverse Lighting were appointed to create the lighting scheme for the hotel, who partnered with premium linear lighting experts, LEDFlex, to fulfil a number of elements of the design.

On arrival at the hotel, guests are immediately welcomed by a large open space, with the reception area discreetly to the side to allow free passage to the lounge. The lighting is kept intimate with soft integrated LEDFlex fixtures - Pro Profile 32 with Eco Flex 180 2700K. 

To illuminate the hotel’s grand staircase, LEDFlex’s Eco Flex 60 in 2700K has been used. This provides a beautiful glow befitting of the sophisticated staircase. Eco Flex 180 2700K can also be found in The Stage restaurant/bar integrated seamlessly into the joinery of the bar counter providing functional lighting for the bar staff through the use of Pro Profile 32 with Eco Flex 60 2700K. On the opposite side the lighting works cleverly to wash vertically through the marble panels. This solution has also been used to provide shelf and joinery lighting in the lower ground floor lobby. 

In the wellness Retreat, the pool area ceiling is lit with LEDFlex’s colour changing Ultra Bright 96 RGBW in 2700K to enable different colours to be used to set the right mood dependent on the time of day. Lumen Line 240 delivers lighting in The Residence’s indirect cove details of the bathroom mirrors. 

Moving down the levels, in the B1/B2/B3 lobby and bar, Eco Flex 180 2700K provides Cove Lighting and Shelf lighting, while the Eco Flex 60 2700k has been used for furniture backlighting.

Finally, the Whiskey Room is a hidden gem featuring a collection of the world’s finest whiskeys, each under lock and key in their own vestibule within a glass cabinet; this is the room’s main feature. An intimate space, with only six tables, the Whiskey Room boasts mirrored walls, with the space playing with light and reflections. Here, LEDFlex’s Pro Profile 32 with Eco Flex 60 2700K has been used. 

Nicola Agresta, Senior Lighting Designer, Inverse Lighting said, “It has been an honour to work with the wider team to fulfil the lighting design for such a prestigious venue. Despite the challenge of a distinct lack of natural daylight to work with, The Londoner offers a wealth of charm, character, and unique features to illuminate, creating a real ambience for all guests”.

Anthony Kerr from LEDFlex said: “The Londoner is a glorious hotel, offering guests a fantastic experience and atmosphere. It is a privilege to have been part of the project team and see so many of our market-leading linear lighting solutions throughout the hotel. The flexibility our range offers, alongside the highest-levels of quality and light output, are demonstrated by being specified in this sophisticated and refined hotel.”

A considered approach to the hotel’s environmental impact was also crucial. To meet the BREEAM Excellent standards, sustainable design solutions have been implemented across all aspects, using construction materials with a low environmental impact. LEDFlex’s solutions play an important role in this, reducing carbon output thanks to the sole use of LED technology.

The Londoner building is projected to use 30 per cent less carbon than regulations legislate, a demonstration of the group’s commitment to a sustainable future.