12|14 Stradom House Hotel in Kracow, is part of the Autograph collection by Marriot which opened in May 2023. A 5 Star hotel in heart of the town of the historical city of Krakow Poland. Originally a monastery the site dates back to the 1400c and has been transformed into an elegant and sophisticated hotel and residences with 125 Key, 3 F&B, full Spa, indoor pool and MICE while retaining with the historical listed church and the surroundings.
Visual Energy were commissioned to design the lighting throughout the site’s many unique historical structures, with a modern approach that is sympathetic to the historical and cultural significance of the project.
The Façade
The building had not been renovated since WWII and required major restorations to return the spectacular façade to its former glory. Situated in the centre of the street leading to the Royal Castle Wawel the lighting highlights the vertical elements and pediment to elegantly elevate it’s presence on the street.
At the street level, we worked with a local artisans and iron mongers to re-invent a traditional coach light, along with a LED retrofitted Gas lamp to give the image of the traditional gas lanterns which once would have lit all the streets of Krakow, as the city had still been lit by gas at the turn of the 20th century.
Hedwig’s Feature Bar
One of the most iconic locations in the hotel is Hedwig’s bar which resides in the main chapel of the monastery. As you enter the bar, guests are awe-struck by the expanse of the high vaulted ceilings above them featuring the restored original fresco discreetly lit by hidden projectors at upper ledges. High Level windows fill the space with daylight. Collaboration with the interior designer allowed for many layers of control within the chandelier as layers fall away into the late evening where only the inner most elements remain lit along with a few table lamps All producing multiple levels of vertical light and contrast.
Front of House
The entrance and lobby were restricted by the historic low vaulted ceiling and arch ways, constricting the space with where to put many essential technical lights. The lighting design mostly uses decorative FF&E lights to create the layers of lighting and points of interest.
Guest Rooms
The guestrooms feature a modern twist on traditional polish designs and patterns and a fusion of the historical elements that make every room unique. The beautiful details in the minibar and bathroom, and simple lighting controls were the final touches needed for the excellent 5-star guest experience.
F&Bs
In the 2 Speciality restaurants and 1 wine cellar, we worked to use minimal technical lighting, instead working with the interior designer FF&E fittings to bring texture and light to the fine dining experience.
MICE
Conference and meeting rooms all have interchangeable flexible lighting for multiple purpose use.
Spa, Gym and Pool
Leading down a historical underground passageway towards the spa we brought in natural light and artificial light through light wells to enhance guest feeling and wellbeing in what could feel like a submerged underground cavern.
The Spa facilities are housed in the old stable block on the monastery away from the hotel at ground level and below.
The high-tech gym is made to feel like a New York warehouse, where the fittings are mounted to graze the ceiling to reveal the raw concrete.
The highlight is the indoor 25m heated pool, where light washes across the bottom surface of the pool, with decorative lighting throughout the relaxation area and a soft wash of light which washes down the back wall to meet the pool at the bottom.
