Simon illuminates Hotel Liabeny Madrid: Light, warmth, and comfort for a renovated classic

Located in the heart of Madrid, Hotel Liabeny has been part of the city’s urban memory since the 1970s. The renovation of the lobby and cafeteria was carried out by Wälmo Estudio, while Simon was responsible for the lighting design.

This project proposes an intervention based on a clear premise: updating the hotel’s image while respecting its classic, sophisticated heritage, adapting it to a more urban, warm, and contemporary language.

The lobby: A welcome of design, light, and connectivity

The new lobby is conceived as a space that balances openness, urban elegance, and domestic warmth. The selection of materials—oiled walnut, Calacatta and Emperador marbles, aged bronzes, natural leather, and velvets—creates a sophisticated and welcoming atmosphere where each element contributes to an orderly reading of the space.

In this context, Simon’s lighting acts as a key tool to define the experience. Through various lighting scenes, the space adapts to the rhythms of the day: clearer, more direct lighting during daylight hours to highlight textures and materials, and a warmer scene that lowers intensity to create a more intimate, enveloping atmosphere.

The cafeteria: A space open to the city

The cafeteria at Hotel Liabeny is redefined as a meeting point in central Madrid, designed to connect the hotel with its urban surroundings. It is a more dynamic and social space, yet aligned with the lobby’s elegance. The material palette maintains visual coherence through woods, natural textiles, and bronze-toned accents, delivering a warm and inviting atmosphere.

In this setting, Simon’s lighting maintains the cohesion of the whole while accompanying different times of day. In the morning, a more homogeneous light enhances natural daylight; in the afternoon, intensities soften; and at night, the lighting becomes more focused, creating an intimate, sophisticated mood.

An intervention serving the experience

Beyond its technical function, Simon’s contribution helps reinforce the project’s identity: a classic hotel updated without losing its heritage, where light complements the materials, defines daily rhythms, and enhances the guest experience.