A business environment with a friendly atmosphere

Lighting defines the character of the refurbished business centre

With the development of the refurbished Princeville Business Centre, Van der Valk Hotel Breda wanted the interior to complement that of the adjacent hotel. At the same time, a conference centre places different demands on an interior than a hotel or restaurant. Design agency Studio HUGO developed the creative overall concept, which brings together the interior, lighting, acoustics, technology and art. dEP de Sfeerontwerpers played a key role in this by providing the lighting design and engineering.

Following the refurbishment and extension, the Princeville Business Centre now has 22 rooms in the new wing and a further 13 in the hotel. These range from small meeting rooms to venues for larger gatherings. There are also breakout rooms, a bar and a restaurant. For dEP, the project marked a continuation of its long-standing involvement with Van der Valk Hotel Breda: the interior designers had previously worked on, amongst other things, the hotel’s restaurant and bar.

“The advantage is that we now know the location very well,” says Hugo Broeders, Creative Director at Studio HUGO. “Van der Valk Hotel Breda asked us to incorporate elements from the hotel into the business centre as well, whilst ensuring it had its own distinct character. The restaurant has a more distinctive style; here, we deliberately opted for a lighter, more business-like interpretation.”

Light brings life

Lighting is a key element in this regard. dEP was responsible for the design and installation of the lighting system for the entire project. The limited ceiling height called for clever solutions. For example, numerous indirectly lit recesses were incorporated, whilst raised ceiling sections create a sense of extra depth. At the same time, acoustic ceilings contribute to the comfort of the meeting rooms. “We’ve used gold-coloured surfaces in various places, which reflect the light. This creates a sense of greater height. In an environment like this, you want to have sufficient functional lighting, but above all, it must create the right atmosphere.”

The eye-catchers are the egg-shaped light fittings, which appear in various designs. Hugo discovered the Spanish light fittings at a trade fair and incorporated them as a recurring element in pendant, wall and floor lamps, amongst other things. They play a particularly prominent role in the breakout rooms. “The pendant lights above the oval tables are real eye-catchers for me,” says Nick Vergouwen, Marketing & Sales Manager at Van der Valk Hotel Breda. “The various wall lights also stand out. They give the rooms their own distinctive look, without making them feel too busy.”

User in control

Behind the comfortable ambience lies a great deal of technology. In the meeting rooms, guests can use touchscreens to adjust the lighting, amongst other things. “One group might want the light a bit brighter, whilst another meeting might actually work better with the lights dimmed,” says Vergouwen. “In the restaurant, these settings are controlled automatically, but in the meeting rooms we deliberately give users control themselves.”

It is precisely in meeting rooms that interior design, lighting, acoustics and audiovisual technology come together, because, according to Studio HUGO, these elements cannot be viewed in isolation from one another. “For example, when a screen is switched on, you want the lighting to respond accordingly. Ultimately, what matters most to the visitor is that everything works smoothly.”

To make a unique contribution to the business centre’s identity, Studio HUGO collaborated with the Belgian artist Isabelle Scheltjens, known for her distinctive portraits. She created the sculptures that adorn the centre. “We like to involve an artist in every project. This allows us to create a distinctive design that is unique to the location and the client.”

dEP now knows Van der Valk Hotel Breda well, and according to Vergouwen, that is a major advantage. “They’ve already carried out a lot of work within the hotel and we’ve built up a good relationship. As a result, we don’t have to explain all over again what suits our venue every time. And if there’s anything, we can get in touch with them very easily. It’s just a pleasure to work with them.”

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