B.E.G. modernises techniques in the repurposing of vagrants' colony

Lighting control as an integral part of the concept

On a site with a fraught history, Hotel Colonie 7 opened on 13 February. The name refers to the Colonies of Benevolence, a nineteenth-century project to combat poverty. Today, the estate is being given a new purpose that brings together heritage, hospitality and technology. B.E.G. was responsible for the modern technology.

When repurposing historic heritage, you have to take numerous factors into account. How do you implement modern technology without compromising the character or the existing infrastructure? This means you often have to develop solutions using, for example, existing cabling. “The client's request was very clear,” outlines Werner Michiels of B.E.G. “Dimmable DALI lighting, switchable per group via multiple push buttons and combinable with non-DALI devices such as outdoor lighting and simple on/off luminaires. 5G 1.5 square millimetre cabling had already been laid. The solution? A DALI-LINK system that enables hybrid control without having to install a complex building management system. A tip for every client, no matter how large or small the project: contact us before the cabling is laid. We will then work together to find the most efficient solution, for instance to save even more on quantities.”

Logic as a starting point

The lighting in the hotel rooms was linked to the hotel key card. As soon as you insert this card into the slot, the system immediately activates the lighting, HVAC and all power sockets. If you remove the card, everything switches off and the system ‘locks’. “A simple action, a major impact on energy management,” Michiels summarises. A striking nuance in this story: the toilet area, which has a separate presence detector without power interruption. This way, the basic lighting always remains available, regardless of the card logic. “A DALI-LINK power supply was provided for every three rooms, taking into account the maximum number of devices on the DALI bus,” Michiels continues. “Push-button modules in each room ensure intuitive control: a short press activates maximum light or soft off, while a long press on the button allows the light to be dimmed. Technology should never feel complex; guests naturally expect comfort.”

Smart choices

What is special about the Hotel Colonie 7 project is that it was realised without any new products being developed. Werner: “The added value lies in the intelligent combination of existing components. As mentioned: had we been brought in before the cabling was planned, it would have been even more efficient, with fewer modules and power supplies per room. That is the most important lesson for designers: lighting control is not an afterthought, it is an integral part of the concept. Anyone who involves technology early in the design process creates more freedom and more budgetary space.”