The former spa polyclinic has transformed into a design hotel

The Poděbrady hotel Chariclea has undergone a significant renovation in recent times, transforming from a former spa polyclinic from the 70s into a clean and minimalist hotel with luxurious wellness facilities and a swimming pool, located right in the heart of picturesque Poděbrady.

From the original structure of the Poděbrady Central Spa, only its basic reinforced concrete skeleton has been preserved, and under the guidance of architect Petr Hák and his team, the three-story building representing the peak of normalization architecture has transformed into a design hotel with an extensive wellness center, swimming pool, and spa services.

The attempt to mask the original structure of the Central Spa and the former spa polyclinic from the 70s, as well as to enlarge the windows to their maximum size with a new layout, helped highlight the simple block of the original building. The task of architect Petr Hák, who is a holder of the Czech Grand Design award, was to extract as much utility from the space as possible and provide visitors with a maximum experience with minimal intervention in the load-bearing structures. The result of the renovation is a design-forward and modern hotel in the middle of Poděbrady with a generous and contemporary wellness center.

Part of the overall renovation was also the lighting design in the hotel and wellness areas. The entire hotel project integrates simple, architectural fixtures from the brand Delta Light.

For impressive lighting in the corridors and rooms designated for spa treatments, a variable track lighting system with SPY reflectors was chosen to create accent lighting in those areas. The SPY reflector collection represents minimalism, functionality, and versatility of lighting, making it well-suited for both commercial and residential spaces. As a balance of light, light lines for indirect illumination were created in the same areas, fulfilling the practical aspects of lighting.

In the locker rooms and wellness facilities, it was essential to ensure sufficient soft, diffused light, which is why linear profiles of STREAMLINER lighting dominate, providing a subtle yet sufficiently powerful line of light even when positioned above an unconventional expanded metal ceiling.

The same light lines complement the restaurant of the hotel with the hanging decorative fixtures The Stack, designed by Petr Hák.

Color and material contrasts are evident in every part of the hotel and wellness. During the selection of lighting, the use of natural light was maximized, a coherent navigation system was designed, and materials were selected to withstand the spa operations as long as possible. The hanging fixtures from the PUNK collection placed next to the beds met both the high aesthetic demands of the architect and the requirements for durability regarding hotel operations. The fixtures from the PUNK collection boast an award from the oldest international design competition, the Good Design Award.

For dramatic lighting of the hotel's main staircase, DOX fixtures were selected, resembling elegant black cylinders combined with the effects of powerful upper and lower light.