Project Case Study

How a Lisbon Boutique Hotel Unified Its Entire Guest Experience with One Magnetic Track System

Boutique hotel lobby with warm magnetic track lighting highlighting textured walls and reception desk
Project
42-room boutique hotel, Lisbon
Before
5 lamp types
3 colour temps
4 control systems
After
1 MAGNETRACK 48V
platform, all spaces
Result
Ambiance +0.9
Energy −34%
Zero maint. Q1
The Problem

Patchwork Lighting, Fragmented Experience

Casa do Largo is a renovated 19th-century townhouse. Over three renovation phases, it accumulated a mix of recessed downlights, surface spots, pendants, and halogen fixtures — each with different colour temps, beam angles, and controls. The warm 2700K restaurant clashed with the cool 4000K corridor. Artwork in the lobby was lost in uneven light. Maintenance carried five lamp types.

The owner needed: visual consistency, flexibility to reconfigure without ceiling work, and a system that wouldn't need another full renovation in 5 years.

The Solution

One 48V Platform, Five Spaces, Unlimited Configurations

MAGNETRACK 48V magnetic track lighting system diagram showing spotlight, grille, and flood modules for Lisbon boutique hotel

MAGNETRACK system diagram — spotlight, grille, and linear flood modules on 48V track

We installed a single 48V magnetic track platform throughout the property — trimless recessed track in public areas, surface-mounted in service zones and the rooftop bar.

Specification highlights:

Parameter Specification Why It Matters
Colour Temperature 2700K guest areas / 3000K BOH Consistent warm atmosphere throughout
Module Types Spot, Linear Flood, Grille, Pendant 4 light effects on one track system
Control System DALI with 4 preset scenes Staff switches ambiance at one touch
Mounting Trimless recessed + Surface Preserves heritage plasterwork
Colour Rendering CRI 95+ for restaurant spots Azulejo tiles look vibrant, not grey
Energy Management Motion sensors, 20% night output 34% energy reduction vs. old system
Boutique hotel guest room with recessed magnetic track lighting above bed and adjustable spotlights creating warm layered ambience

Space-by-Space Configuration

Space Track Modules Control
Lobby Trimless Recessed 24° Spot + Linear Flood DALI Presets
Restaurant Trimless Recessed 15° Spot CRI95+ + Pendant DALI Dimming
Corridors Surface 48V Anti-Glare Grille (UGR<19) DALI + Motion
Guest Rooms Trimless Recessed Spot / Flood / Pendant Local + Central DALI
Rooftop Bar Surface 48V Pendant + Flood DALI Presets
The Results

Measurable Improvement Across Every KPI

Three months post-installation:

  • Guest ambiance scores rose from 3.8 → 4.7 / 5.0
  • Energy consumption down 34% vs. previous halogen/fluorescent mix
  • Zero maintenance calls for lighting in the first quarter
  • Room conversion (4 standard rooms → junior suite) required no new wiring — just a longer track section and 2 extra modules
42 Rooms on One System
34% Energy Saved
0 Maintenance Calls (Q1)
4 Module Types, One Track
"The best compliment we get now is when guests don't mention the lighting at all. They just say the hotel feels calm and considered." — Marco Silva, Owner, Casa do Largo

What This Means for Your Next Hospitality Project

  • One system reduces long-term risk. Training, spare parts, future renovations — all simpler with a unified platform.
  • Modularity pays off during changes. Hotels evolve. Rooms become suites. Restaurants get re-themed. Magnetic track makes those transitions affordable — no rewiring, no ceiling work.
  • Control protects design intent. Scene presets aren't a luxury — they're how you ensure the lighting designer's work survives the night shift.

Have a Hospitality Project?

We provide complimentary lighting layout proposals for hotel, restaurant, and retail projects. Send us your floor plans and design brief — we'll recommend track configuration, module selection, and driver sizing tailored to your space.

Contact MAGNETRACK for a project-specific specification package.

Related Articles

Application Guide
How to Specify Magnetic Track Lighting for 5 Commercial Project Types
Design Trends 2026
The Art of Invisible Lighting: Why Trimless is the New Standard