The BoTree London is a stylish newly built hotel property and part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, located in the heart of Marylebone in central London.
It combines the individuality and style of boutique accommodation with the energy, colour and atmosphere of the bustling metropolis. It offers a welcoming and stimulating environment, perfect for those travelling for work, leisure or adventure.
77 is an exclusive and intimate club and event space within the hotel, described as “an intimate space where warmth, technology and world-class music intertwine”.
Its sleek and imaginative production design — including lighting, audio, video, DJ booth, rigging and automation — was created and developed by Audiotek, featuring a lighting system composed of Robe PAINTE Profile and Tetra2 moving lights.
Led by Frank Murray, Audiotek is renowned for its work in some of the world’s most prestigious clubs over the last two decades, including Omnia and Hakkasan in Las Vegas, both of which also feature Robe fixtures among other brands. This track record was the reason they were commissioned to design a striking and spectacular technical installation for 77, allowing the space to operate both as an exclusive club and as a dynamic multifunctional event venue.
Chris Kmiec, director of Audiotek UK, explained that the client entrusted them with the complete systems design for the 700-capacity venue. The brief was to recreate the aesthetic and atmosphere of the world’s top international clubs, combining the best elements of the contemporary Las Vegas, Miami and New York scenes while also bringing a genuinely London essence into the mix.
The slightly asymmetrical shape of the space was a distinctive feature they chose to embrace, ultimately influencing both the technology and the overall design.
It made things slightly more complicated, but it also added personality, commented Chris.
Having used various Robe fixtures on numerous previous projects, the Audiotek team was looking for LED fixtures that were physically compact yet as powerful as possible in order to integrate them into the ceiling. Knowing that the venue would also host fashion shows, product launches and private events, they needed a highly versatile system.
Another essential factor was quality. They wanted “reliable and contemporary products that would not look outdated after a couple of years”, which led them to choose the PAINTE and Tetra2 fixtures that, according to Chris, “ticked all the boxes and more”. He also highlighted the importance of working with a brand offering strong local support, and after collaborating with Robe UK on multiple occasions, they were delighted to do so again.
The fixtures are installed in the ceiling on custom structures chemically fixed into the venue’s concrete slab. These structures were specially fabricated for the project together with the video elements.
The positioning of the DJ booth generated intense discussions due to the room’s asymmetrical shape across two axes. Ultimately, it was decided to place it at the shorter end of the space, requiring the technical design to also accommodate the balcony void without compromising the venue’s overall aesthetics or ceiling height.
It was the first time Audiotek had used PAINTE Profiles and Tetra2 fixtures in one of its permanent installations. They selected the PAINTE units for their ability to deliver both spot and wash beams equally effectively, reducing the amount of equipment required while multiplying the creative possibilities. They were impressed by the intensity and sharpness of the PAINTE fixtures, as well as the wide range of features they offer, including static and rotating gobo wheels, full framing shutters, prism and a practical 8° to 48° zoom.
The Tetra2 units were selected for their elegant linear aesthetic, versatility and ability to create sheets and lines of light, pixel effects, sparkles and other eye-catching visual effects. Their linearity fitted perfectly with the architecture of 77, and some of them are mounted on motorised bars, making it possible to create a more symmetrical lighting appearance whenever desired.
Frank and Chris developed the technical and creative concepts for the project. Chris managed the installation process; James Bentham served as lighting designer (LD), while Ash Attwood handled the technical and systems design. Visual Zuu is the technical services provider responsible for the day-to-day operation of the venue’s production elements, as well as supplying video content and lighting operators.
Photo credits: Tim “Tiki” Shapcott
