LAZY RIVER | CENTARA GRAND MIRAGE

A Nightscape Experience Across One Hectare

This ambitious theming lighting design project was conceived for the Centara Hotel brand in Pattaya, spanning a vast 1-hectare area. The scope of work encompassed the hotel’s primary guest arrival sequence, including the main drop-off zone, the expansive lobby, and the lively and immersive “Lazy River” water park. The overarching goal was to craft a holistic nocturnal experience—an integrated, multi-layered nightscape that goes beyond functional illumination to offer guests a journey through atmospheres. Every element of the lighting design was curated to elicit emotion, enhance spatial storytelling, and celebrate the architectural and natural beauty of the site.

Main Drop-off & Lobby Area – “A Quiet Drama of Light”

In the main entrance and hotel lobby zone, the design focused on evoking a serene, welcoming mood while subtly highlighting architectural and artistic features. A soft, ambient lighting environment was created to allow the space to breathe and feel open, with a strong emphasis on visual comfort and aesthetic cohesion.

Special attention was given to the landscape elements and sculptural features. Gentle spotlighting techniques were used to illuminate these focal points with elegance and restraint. This deliberate softness allowed the architecture to emerge in contrast. The vast canopy structure of the lobby, a key architectural gesture, was treated as a celestial plane—its surface animated with a subtle “starfield” effect using pinpoint light sources. This contrasting interplay of stillness and sparkle invites guests into the hotel with a sense of wonder and tranquility.

Jungle Park – “A Theatrical Play of Natural Elements”

The design direction for the Jungle Park section embraced a theatrical and immersive approach, treating the landscape as a living stage. Here, the aim was to celebrate the dynamic interaction between natural elements—light, water, and vegetation—through carefully orchestrated lighting.

A network of pole-mounted projectors was strategically distributed throughout the area. Each fixture was individually aimed and tuned to respect the contours of the landscape and the flowing geometry of the water features. The chosen warm light spectrum mimicked the glow of firelight and sunset tones, enhancing the texture and color of surrounding vegetation.

The resulting environment is rich with layered shadows and softly glowing surfaces. Moving water reflects light in a shimmering dance, while the foliage casts dramatic silhouettes that shift as guests move through the space. This creates a sensory experience that feels cinematic yet grounded in nature—like walking through a moonlit forest with moments of discovery at every turn.

Magic Garden – “A Chromatic Dreamscape”

The Magic Garden zone was envisioned as a fantastical and surreal retreat—an environment where color, contrast, and light transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. The lighting strategy employed a combination of RGBW (red-green-blue-white) projectors directed upward into the canopy, washing the treetops with luminous shades of indigo, violet, and emerald.

To enhance this ethereal effect, ultraviolet (UV) lighting was applied downward onto the undergrowth and low vegetation. This technique caused certain plants and materials to fluoresce, creating a soft, otherworldly glow. The coexistence of upward color washes and downward UV tones resulted in a dreamlike gradient of color—a suspended, magical moment in the landscape.

This zone was designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. The use of light as an emotive, chromatic material aimed to inspire a sense of delight, mystery, and enchantment, making the Magic Garden a memorable highlight for visitors of all ages.

Volcano Island – “Narrative Lighting and Immersive Storytelling”

At the heart of the site, Volcano Island stands as the emotional and theatrical centerpiece of the entire lighting master plan. Conceived as a storytelling anchor, this central zone features a nightly spectacle that seamlessly fuses water, sound, and light into a multi-sensory experience.

Dynamic lighting systems—including color-changing fixtures, gobo projections, and moving heads—are synchronized with ambient audio and water effects to create a choreographed nighttime show. This immersive sequence transports visitors into a world of myth and play, where the elements themselves seem to come alive.

Beyond its entertainment value, the show is also a contemplative moment: a gathering space where guests can pause, reflect, and be enveloped by a carefully designed atmosphere that evokes awe and wonder. It’s both the climax of the journey and a celebration of the interplay between design, nature, and imagination.