The Gran Casino Al Jarafe

Seville, Spain

Perched on top of a hill in the metropolitan area of Seville is one of Spain's most modern casinos, the Gran Casino Aljarafe. The trendy entertainment development houses an abundance of live tables and slot machines to suit the most enthusiastic of gamers, five restaurants including Spain's first Japanese eatery, and a terrace and snack bar serving traditional tapas. There is also a nightclub on the premises for those who want to party the night away.

UFO was selected by the Oxfordshire office of DPA lighting consultants to provide fiber optic lighting effects throughout the modern development. The brief called for vibrant lighting that would creatively enhance the interior space. In keeping with this DPA decided to introduce theatrically lit elements that would break up the expansive zones in the development and opted for cold cathode and fiber optic lighting.

We were asked to fulfil the fiber optic element by installing our star ceilings in several areas of the Gran Casino. It was important that the star ceilings emanated a different effect in each area and so various fibers and end fittings were used to achieve the unique looks.

Crystal fittings were installed in the ceiling above the casino floor to give a bright point of light and to cast an interesting pattern around each fitting. In the bar area and above the slot machines, bare ended fiber was used to create small, dense star-like points of light, while large sparkle downlights were fitted in the ceiling above the reception.

Using different sized points of light enabled us to create distinct zones within the development which guests could seamlessly pass through. The overall effect was warm and atmospheric thanks to the three dimensional effects that the star ceilings projected.