A challenging project from the outset
The starting point was a very specific technical quest: how to achieve natural light in windowless interiors.
Fernando Rojo, lighting designer of Dlight Lighting Solutions Barcelonawas commissioned to renovate the event rooms of the prestigious Hotel InterContinental Barcelona, a five-star hotel that had to offer visual comfort, aesthetic impact and professional lighting quality in spaces without access to sunlight.
Fernando Rojo
Lighting designer for Dlight Lighting Solutions Barcelona
During his research, Rojo found Actilum and requested a meeting at our headquarters. Initially, the designer was looking for panels from other brands in the market. However, after a technical review and comparative tests, none of the alternatives evaluated offered the level of light demand required for the project.
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Solar Window
Price range: 505,78 € through 1.093,31 € VAT exc.
Validation and final decision
The process started with a 1×1 m prototype to evaluate the proposed solution. The client brought a wooden frame and the actual glass that would be installed in the hotel, in order to test how the light would behave with the final material and ensure that everything would be perfect.
Tests were carried out with Luxpanel CC, a high-efficiency technology that produces only Actilum and is 40% brighter than its competitors, but did not reach the level desired by the designer. In the end, 80% more light output was required to achieve the realistic sunlight effect.
The solution: Frontline S TW18 with calibrated solar spectrum
Finally, Actilum’s technical and design team proposed a tailor-made solution using Frontline S TW18 with a depth of only 50 mm, equipped with Tunable White technology from 2700K to 6700K and a biomimetic solar spectrum ranging from violet 405 nm to infrared 800 nm.
A chromatic fidelity of 98% was achieved (R9 > 92), with a spectral error of less than 2% with respect to the sun. The entire installation was managed by DALI DT8 systems, guaranteeing absolute control of scenes, dimming and ambience with Zencontrol systems .
Result: a fake solar window that exceeds expectations
The project included lacquered wood joinery with a detailed design that accurately simulated real windows. The frames incorporate real bronze handles and sconces, providing an elegant appearance consistent with the hotel’s surroundings. This structure allowed for the natural integration of human wellness-oriented lighting technology, achieving a visual sensation of real sunlight.
The eight meters of false windows reproduce the natural lighting with total chromatic fidelity and without glare, generating such a convincing effect that the client has requested a new order to extend the installation to other rooms in the hotel.
This case not only demonstrates the value of advanced LED technology, but also how a co-creation process between designer, client and manufacturer can exceed any initial expectations.
Why was Actilum chosen over Folio?
Feature | Folio Italy | Frontline S12 by Actilum |
Solar spectral fidelity | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (solar spread spectrum 405-800 nm) |
Tunable White Technology | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (2700K-6700K calibrated) |
DALI management | ❌ Limited | ✅ Full integration |
Light power (high demand) | ❌ Insufficient | ✅ Adapted by project |
Local production and support | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (Spain) |
Applications and future projection
The solution developed by Actilum is ideal for:
- Hotels without exterior windows
- Conference and event rooms
- Premium interior offices
- Wellness areas and spas
- Hospitals rooms without sunlight
The renovation continues and, thanks to this positive experience, new solar windows will be installed in other areas of the hotel between January and March 2026.
Do you want to implement a similar solution?
Learn more about our faux windows with artificial sunlight or talk to our technical team.
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Solar Window
Price range: 505,78 € through 1.093,31 € VAT exc.