BIOPHILIA INSPIRED DESIGNS GUIDE VISO CUSTOM LIGHTING FOR WESTIN NEW ORLEANS HOTEL

For the recently renovated Westin New Orleans, which reopened to the public in January 2020, VISO, collaborated with Moncur Design Associates Inc.to create an updated and elevated hotel. VISO worked with the design team on their goal to evoke the spirit of New Orleans seamlessly throughout the hotel interiors and visually emphasize biophilia, Westin’s primary principal of design.


Project Design Brief

Adjacent to the French Quarter, one of the largest and most celebrated historical districts in North America, the Westin New Orleans is a part of a vibrant cultural scene and has panoramic views of the grand bend of the Mississippi River. Moncur Design Associates designed and renovated the hotel to celebrate the majesty and beauty of the river, as well as the charm of New Orleans, capturing the city’s history, culture, architecture, and natural elements. In order to do so, Moncur Design Associates was particularly selective in choosing their sources for every element of the renovation design, including the lighting which needed to perfectly integrate with the existing building.

One of the most striking elements of the property is the high ceilings, which are adorned with extensive architectural detailing. Encouraged by these characteristics, Moncur Design Associates set out to find a company that would successfully create bold and contemporary statement lighting pieces for the hotel. Having worked with VISO on many projects in the past, the design team turned to us for their expertise, custom capabilities, and unparalleled aesthetics to build pieces that would complement the property and the rest of the design of the hotel.


Result

In keeping with the focus on biophilia, VISO created a bespoke lighting package that combines classic materials with organic forms. Each piece adds to the overall ambience of the hotel and creates a lasting impression on visitors. VISO designed every fixture to be proportionally grand in scale, creating focal points that function both as lighting and sculptural art. Using organic forms such as rings, circles, cylinders, and globes paired with visually dynamic materials such as glass and brass, VISO created an elevated series of luminaires that exceeded the expectations and needs of the design team. The result is a stimulating yet rejuvenating hospitality design experience in the heart of the vivacious city of New Orleans.


Challenges

VISO custom designed each piece within the decorative lighting plan, including the custom Interlock Chandelier,which was installed in a series of three and prominently featured above the lobby bar. With a tight timeline, the VISO team had to work quickly and cooperatively with all stakeholders to ensured that each piece flawlessly fit the requirements of its intended installation location prior to delivery. To do so, our team frequently visited the hotel during renovations and worked closely with Moncur Design Associates and the Westin New Orleans to ensure efficiency and excellence. VISO lighting is featured in each of the following spaces in the Westin New Orleans: lobby bar, reception, dining rooms, restaurant, public spaces, meeting rooms, ballrooms, pre-function areas, staircase, and breakfast bar.

To see more of the decorative lighting for this project, visit our projects page here. Give out team a call to discuss how VISO can help bring your lighting vision to life.


The Designs

Lobby bar area: Three custom Interlock Chandeliers, each measuring 120”/3048mm high and 132”/3353mm in diameter. 192 acrylic tubs in various heights and diameter surrounds the central structure and is buoyed by a clear acrylic support. The fixtures feature a white powder coated finish on the canopy and an acrylic plate mirror finish and metal polished brass finish details. It is lit with 2700k LED strips.

Bar Lights: Eight custom bar lamps can be found in the 11thfloor bar. Each fixture measures 18”/457mm high with a shade that is 7”/178mm high. The shade is fabricated from perforated metal, finished in Satin Hairline Brass and measures 7.5”/191mm in diameter with an opal white acrylic diffuser on top. The base is 11”/279mm high and 3.75”/95mm in diameter. It is made from Caesarstone Quartz with a polished Mistry Carrera finish. The fixture is lit with a dimmable E26 LED lamp.

Buffet area: Five custom pendants light up the 11thfloor breakfast buffet area. Each pendant measure 48”/1219mm from the ceiling. The pendant features an outer metal ring (17.7”/450mm in diameter), a dome shade (15.75”/400mm in diameter), and 2 metal tubes in the center (the larger tube is 9.84”/250mm; the inner tube is 5.12”/130mm in diameter). The entire fixture is finished in Satin Brass.

Restaurant: Twelve custom VISO Rings light up the 11thfloor Bistro at the Bend dining room. The larger rings measures 72”/1829mm in diameter and the smaller rings measures 42”/1067mm in diameter. The fixture is lit with an integrated LED board and finished in Satin Brass. Each ring is hung from a Satin Brass finished canopy at various heights.

Reception: The front desk fixture features multiple metal branches that are finished in Black Chrome, Brushed Copper, Satin Brass, Brushed Nickel or Hairline Satin Pewter Copper. The chandelier is 198.5”/5042mm long, 30”/762mm wide and is lit with 27 dimmable G9 LED bulbs. It is attached to a metal ceiling canopy finished in Satin Brass via aircraft cables and clear electrical cords.

Staircase: This stunning chandelier at the Grand Staircase features 52 glass and metal globes suspended from a custom metal canopy in Satin Brass finish. Each globe measures 10”/254mm in diameter and features metal details and an opal white glass finish. The canopy measures 72”/1829mm diameter while the globes are hung at various lengths, up to 232.5”/5906mm from the ceiling.

Chandelier at 11th Floor Riverbend Ballroom: Four stunning glass chandeliers are installed in the Riverbend Ballroom. The chandelier measures 96”/2438mm in diameter and is 41”/1041mm tall. The light source is embedded within the chandelier, 15”/381mm from the bottom of the fixtures. The structure is mounted on a round ceiling canopy, which is attached to a square metal ceiling canopy which measures 108”/2743mm x 108”/2743mm. The fixture features 780 glass tubes and is lit with 80 dimmable G9 LED bulbs.

Chandelier on the 12th Floor: Three custom scalloped-shaped chandeliers are located in the 12thfloor Grand Ballroom. The fixture features 8 layers of clear crystal suspended cylinders of various lengths mounted to a perforated metal donut framework with a polished brass finish. Each fixture measures 120”/3048mm in diameter and is 20”/508mm high. The chandelier is lit with 84 dimmable G9 LED bulbs places between the glass tubes around the ring.

Wall sconce: This custom wall sconce can be found on the 3rd, 11thand 12thfloors of the hotel. It measures 20”/508mm high, 5.5”/140mm wide and extends 4”/102mm from the wall. Resembling a folded fin, this sconce features an inner metal shade with a Satin Brass finish and an outer shade in Origami White. The metal shade in Origami White extended out from the bottom section of the fixture, reflecting the glow from a dimmable G9 LED bulb.

Meeting Room: 6 custom chandeliers can be found throughout the meeting rooms on the 12thfloor. The outer metal shade measures 24”/610mm in diameter and features a Dark Bronze finish on the outside and Satin Brass finish on the inside with a clear acrylic plate. The inner metal shade measures 24”/610mm in diameter, features a White Powered Coated finish and houses six E12 LED bulbs. The fixture is capped with an opal acrylic satin finish glass diffuser. The chandeliers are hung at various heights, depending on the room and the lengths vary between 23”/584mm to 32”/813mm. A similar fixture can also be found in the 11thfloor market.

Pre-function Area: Four custom circular glass chandeliers were created for the 3rdfloor pre-function areas. The round structures are 72”/1829mm in diameter from the outer ring and 44”/1118mm from the inner ring. The chandeliers feature 81 metal wireframe structures each threaded with 21 round clear glass globes and is suspended from a metal canopy finished in Satin Brass. Each fixture is lit with 27 G9 LED bulb placed around the ring of the structure.


Designer: Moncur Design Associates Limited

Product: VISO Design Studio, Interlock And Ring