Dorothea Hotel: Light honouring legacy in Budapest’s cultural heart
When Piero Lissoni approached the challenge of unifying three historic buildings into a single five-star hotel, he needed more than a lighting supplier — he needed a collaborative partner who could translate Italian design vision into highest-quality reality.
Working alongside his studio, Lissoni & Partners across the development, we became that partner. Our role was to create custom lighting that would respect each building’s distinct character while helping them speak as one.
Light as architectural unification
From the moment guests arrive, our custom entrance lighting establishes the hotel’s refined character. A handcrafted, etherial feature creating a first impression, a feeling similar to finding a hidden gem.
The bar area presented a compelling design challenge: a dramatic 9-meter pendant suspended from just three ceiling points. The engineering required precision: spanning that distance while maintaining clean lines and structural integrity with the glass decors. Integrated library-style table lighting adds intimate spots of warmth, inviting guests to relax or have a chat.
In the Pavilon restaurant’s breakfast area, we developed built-in lighting for the heated buffet stations and custom wall lightings throughout the corridors and most of the rooms. The first-floor lounge required something elegant and mystical: large decorative illuminated decorative walls that transform the area into a cozy space, creating an atmosphere giving guests a reason to pause, to settle into a space designed for connection and comfort.
Why this approach matters
Custom lighting developed through genuine collaboration is a statement of mutual respect, shared visions and appreciation of human connections. They shape how guests experience a space, influence what they notice and remember, contribute to the details they mention in reviews.
The evidence appears in guest testimonials: “spectacular attention to details,” “everything made into the detail,” descriptions of a hotel that made their stay “extra special.” These comments reflect environments where every element reinforces a unified vision of quality and care.
Celebrating the dreams that have become reality
During Milan Design Week 2025, Lissoni & Partners displayed large-format photographs of completed hotel spaces alongside original renderings. The studio selected these images because they were nearly indistinguishable – proof that vision and execution had aligned completely. We gathered for a group photograph, celebrating what we’d achieved together.
Dorothea Hotel now holds a 9.9 location rating and recognition as Hotel Project of the Year. It stands among Marriott’s Autograph Collection properties – hotels chosen for distinctive character and design excellence.
For Lumoconcept, the project confirmed what we’ve long believed: holistic interior projects that integrate custom lighting from the earliest stages create spaces that guests genuinely respond to. The difference shows in reviews, in photographs, in the intangible sense that someone cared deeply about every detail.
These are the projects we seek – where craft meets vision, where collaboration produces something memorable, where light helps tell a story worth experiencing.
Design: Piero Lissoni
Technical lighting design and production: LumoConcept
Photography: Tamas Bujnovszky
Year: 2023