The luxurious Belmond Copacabana Palace hotel sits on the glorious seafront in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The resort offers elegant amenities for guests to experience, including comfortable suites, a variety of high-end dining and drinking venues, and a large swimming pool. Since its opening in 1923, the hotel has undergone a number of renovations and refurbishments in the last century.

Recently, the hotel embarked on a spectacular journey to celebrate its centenary, illuminating its façade with a breath taking display of dynamic lighting. The visionary LD Studio, in collaboration with LED specialists TRYKA and the skilled hands of ECS, transformed the hotel’s exterior into a mesmerising spectacle.

The brief was to create a façade that pays tribute to the Copacabana Palace’s rich legacy while radiating a modern aesthetic. LD Studio, under the creative direction of Mônica Luz Lobo, masterfully designed an eclectic architectural masterpiece using cutting-edge LED solutions from TRYKA.

The façade, adorned with architectural linear marvels such as Stripline45, Stripline AG, Aura 5, and Aura 7 LEDs, now dances with vibrant colours and themes. Controlled by a state-of-the-art DMX system and the LPC2 from Pharos Architectural Controls, the lighting can be transformed at will, offering a dynamic canvas that evolves with the hotel’s spirit.

ECS, entrusted with the installation and commissioning, meticulously tested and programmed the system, ensuring flawless execution. The team’s journey to Rio de Janeiro culminated in the realisation of a lighting masterpiece, ready to celebrate diverse occasions—from Carnaval to Christmas—in a radiant symphony.

As the Belmond Copacabana Palace approaches its 100-year milestone, the façade lighting stands as a testament to its enduring charm. Ryan Rolph from TRYKA said “It was a pleasure to work with ECS on creating the renovated lighting scheme for this century-old hotel. The collaboration with ECS ensured the perfect commissioning of our lighting solutions. The illumination of the façade beautifully highlights the original architecture and unique features, while ensuring the hotel looks contemporary and attractive. The soft lighting adds to the elegant nature of the hotel for a stunning result.” 

Client – Belmond
Lighting Design – LD Studio 
Lighting Supply – TRYKA
Commissioning – ECS Limited