Technology and design come together in the renovated Carlton Beach Hotel

The sun always shines indoors

When you step into the renovated Carlton Beach Hotel in Scheveningen, you notice it immediately: the sun sets the tone in the hotel. From the first rays of sunshine in the morning to the soft amber light in the evening. Behind this experience lies a close collaboration between interior design and branding agency Creneau, Carlton Hotels and dEP de Sfeerontwerpers, who were responsible for the lighting and sound design as well as the entire technical realisation.

The renovation of the Carlton Beach Hotel was a major project. “We completely renovated the hotel in phases: first the rooms, then the entire ground floor with the lobby, restaurant and public areas,” says Laura Heukels, Marketing Launch Manager at Carlton Beach. “The interior was completely stripped, a fixed staircase to the first floor was installed, and even a third lift for housekeeping. It was a rigorous project that required us to close temporarily, but the result is a totally new experience.”

Carlton Beach collaborated with Creneau, a regular partner of the hotel group, on the interior design and branding. Interior designer Tibo Van Waeyenberge: “We wanted to breathe new life into the hotel without losing its recognisable character. Carlton Beach had to remain a summer beach hotel, but also feel attractive and warm in winter.”

Lighting played a key role in that concept. “We were looking for a way to make the natural dynamics of the day, from sunrise to sunset, tangible in the interior,” says Van Waeyenberge. “Fortunately, we knew that dEP de Sfeerontwerpers could make this vision a reality. They create an architectural layer that you experience without immediately seeing it.”

Light that moves with the day

dEP was involved from the initial design stage and delivered a turnkey solution: from concept and lighting plan to installation of lighting, sound and controls. The most striking element is the amber drift LED lines, which mimic the rhythm of the day. The light gradually changes from extra warm in the morning to cooler white during the day and back again in the evening.

“We believe that technology should enhance design, not dominate it,” says Jordy Slob, Marketing Manager at dEP de Sfeerontwerpers. “Thanks to this lighting solution, guests intuitively experience a natural transition throughout the day and seasons, which is in keeping with the seaside location.”

The sound system was also completely renovated. The speakers are concealed in the ceilings and painted in the same RAL colour so that they blend in with the interior. In the meeting rooms, light and sound can be easily adjusted via a touchscreen integrated into the building management system. “Staff can determine the sound source and volume themselves. The lighting switches on automatically, but can be adjusted manually using pre-set presets if desired,” says Slob. “This allows us to focus entirely on the guest experience.”

The central drivers that control all the luminaires are located in a single cooled location, which simplifies maintenance and extends service life.

Sunny feeling, all year round

For Carlton Beach, the new installation is more than just technology; it is part of the brand experience. “We used to do a lot manually,” says Heukels. “Now the atmosphere of light and sound is precisely tailored to the time of day. Guests notice this and share it on social media. They even take photos by the new staircase, because the light is particularly visible there. For us, that's proof that technology and emotion come together here.”