Lightswitch took a holistic look at Mayfair House Hotel, approaching the project with the goal of honoring the architect’s original vision while updating the lighting for modern guests.
Lightswitch took a holistic look at Mayfair House Hotel, approaching the project with the goal of honoring the architect’s original vision while updating the lighting for modern guests.
Built by visionary architect Kenneth Treister in 1985, Mayfair House Hotel was already ahead of its time. Its biophilic design is trendy by today’s standards, but represented a strong departure from the preferred architecture of the time. When Lightswitch was brought onto the project, the building had already gone through several renovations throughout the years, many of which obscured its beautiful original character. We took a holistic look at the property, approaching the project with the goal of honoring Treister’s vision while updating the lighting for modern guests.
Lightswitch collaborated with the talented interior designers at Goodrich on the adaptation of Treister’s design. We worked closely with their team, as well as with the client, to bridge the gap between the original architectural intent and the modern functionality of the space.
Our goal was to link the private and public areas of the property – from pool deck, to garden atrium, to guest rooms – to create a flowing lighting design that echoed the natural, floral influences of the architecture. The building, which is clad entirely in a sculpted copper façade, organically introduces the shapes and textures of nature into its urban setting. Lightswitch sought to accentuate these biophilic elements – not because they are currently popular, but because they have served Treister’s design since its inception.
With its design phase taking place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, this project was not without challenges. We worked especially closely with the project team to create an achievable scope, and many design iterations took place before a practical strategy was developed that served the original design intent. Luckily, Lightswitch is well-versed in this kind of balancing act, and soon we were able to jump into the process of bringing this reimagination of the hotel to life. Mayfair House Hotel is an amazing example of historic architecture, and we are proud to have had a hand in preserving and transforming it for guests long into the future.
photography by Giada Paoloni
