Nestled in the heart of London’s financial district, The Ned—the former Midland Bank HQ designed by Sir Edwin “Ned” Lutyens—has been masterfully reborn as a 252-room luxury hotel, complete with nine restaurants, bars, a rooftop terrace, spa, and private members’ area. For this transformational project, the lighting brief required solutions that would honour the building’s historic grandeur while delivering modern performance.
The Challenge
Zico Lighting's role was two-fold: integrate LED lamps into preserved decorative fittings and collaborate on bespoke corridor lighting. The goal? Achieve warm, film-noir elegance—while satisfying cost and quality expectations.
Signature Touch
- LED Filament Lamps: Seamlessly installed in banker lights, chandeliers, and vintage fixtures across dining halls and bars, Zico’s LED lamps offered smooth dimming, high CRI, compatibility with Lighting controls, and energy efficiency. These retrofit bulbs provided atmospheric depth without disrupting original aesthetics.
- Candle C35 Clear 4W 2200K E14 Light Bulbs were used extensively on this project.
- Layered Light Scenes: Beyond retrofits, Zico worked hard to blend decorative and architectural lighting—art deco pendants, table lamps, coffer-cap skiing lighting, recessed and low-level accent lights—highlighting vaults, walnut counters, marble plinths, and rooftop domes.
Outcome & Impact
- Historic Preservation with Modern Performance: The lighting celebrated The Ned's original architecture without overshadowing it—creating "collected, not brand-new" installations that flow beautifully through time.
- Flawless Compatibility & Control: Zico light bulbs were rigorously tested with DALI systems, offering flicker-free dimming, excellent control, and compliance with safety and emergency lighting regulations.
- Atmospheric Cohesion Throughout: From the bank hall’s warm pendants to the intimate rooftop bar spheres and the vault’s accent lighting, the scheme unified diverse spaces into a harmonious lighting narrative.
Why Zico Lighting?
- Design Sensitivity: Zico’s LED filament lamps preserve historical charm while delivering energy-smart solutions.
- Service: Expert collaboration in delivering high quality light bulbs to a designers spec.
- Technical Reliability: High CRI, smooth low-level dimming, system compatibility, and regulatory compliance—shaping an intricate lighting ecosystem.
Zico Lighting’s involvement at The Ned is a testament to its philosophy: lighting should support the story—not steal the show. By honouring a Grade I listed façade with technically advanced, beautifully integrated lighting, Zico helped shape a space that invites discovery, day or night.
For architects, hoteliers, and lighting designers crafting heritage-rich spaces, the The Ned case study exemplifies how contemporary lighting technology can enhance and preserve architectural legacy. Zico Lighting stands as your partner in achieving that delicate balance—where craftsmanship, performance, and emotion converge.
Interested in how Zico Lighting can illuminate your next historic or hospitality project? Get in touch today.
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