SO/Hotel, Auckland

Situated in the downtown Britomart district in the heart of Auckland City, SO/Hotel is a luxurious urban boutique hotel, its avant-garde design blends the essence of the destination with the Hotel’s soul, bursting with local energy and magnificent views. The entrance foyer had to set the tone for the remaining experience of the Hotel’s varying spaces. With an objective to curate a quirky charm that emanated throughout the hotel, the owner wished for large-scale wow-factor, elements of surprise with bursts of quirkiness emerging out of a dark moody space. To meet the lighting requirements of the service areas, iGuzzini Laser Blade High Contrast was used, the light source remaining obscure, retiring into the dark finishes that defined the lobby area. Rather than illuminating the whole room, the lighting design guided guests to wow moments as well as be a wow factor in itself. Upon the 14th floor, the restaurant Harbour Society flooded with an abundance of transient natural light, needed a highly adaptable lighting system to accommodate the three main dining settings throughout the day. Working with lots of glass, Laser Blade by iGuzzini were used for their low glare, customisable finish and dimming capabilities.