Light Play: OCCA’s Kate Mooney on creative illumination

In the language of lighting, we speak fluently: task, ambient, accent, CRI, kelvins. But what we really chase – what transforms a space from beautiful to unforgettable – is far harder to quantify. It’s the ineffable magic that happens when creative lighting stops simply illuminating and, instead, starts performing.

At OCCA, we believe light is more than a function. It’s a mood-setter, a storyteller, a master illusionist. In the world of luxury hospitality, where every corner must captivate both the eye and the heart, lighting becomes the silent architect of memory, because, while guests may forget the thread count, they rarely forget how a space felt.

Hotel Make Believe – hotel concept, designed by OCCA | Image credit: OCCA

Designing with emotion

Imagine a hotel lobby that greets you with clarity and energy by day, then wraps you in a soft amber haze as the sun dips – an unconscious nod to the circadian rhythm. Or a restaurant where light pools, dramatically yet discreetly, over each table – making every meal feel cinematic.

These aren’t just design features. They’re emotional cues. And while disciplined, well-tempered lighting earns our respect, it’s the moments of drama and mischief – the flickers of boldness – in creative lighting, that truly stay with us.

The case for play

Playful lighting has a disruptive intelligence. It delights, surprises and creates emotional punctuation marks in a space. In a market increasingly defined by experience rather than appearance, these are the moments that elevate design from impressive to immersive.

We’ve layered lighting in wellness corridors to mimic the dappled canopy of a forest – tapping into biophilic calm. We have also introduced shifting tones to guide guests through phases of rest, recovery and reawakening.

‘Play’, often mistaken for ‘gimmick’, is about challenging convention with purpose – introducing moments of controlled subversion that feel intentional rather than chaotic, and crafting unexpected gestures that elevate a space without overwhelming it.

Drama at Castlebasket Castle, poise at the Old Course

Two recent projects stand as a study in contrasts – proof that lighting can dance between theatrical and traditional while remaining exquisitely appropriate.

At Crossbasket Castle, a storied estate reimagined for modern luxury, we leaned into the architectural romance of the building with lighting as part of our role to deliver the FF&E procurement. We specified lighting that felt almost photographic. Ornate Art Deco fixtures cast elongated shadows across velvet upholstery and gilded cornicing, while concealed uplighting dramatises stone walls and sculptural staircases. The effect is less illumination, more mise-en-scène.

OCCA HQ in Glasgow, designed by OCCA | Image credit: OCCA

By contrast, at the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews, our approach embraced tradition without ever feeling predictable. Lighting here creates quiet triumphs – subtle recessed architectural lighting paired with striking chandeliers that elegantly punctuate each room. The design was carefully calibrated to cast graceful gestures, adding warmth and character without overwhelming the timeless setting.

Together, these projects reveal how lighting, when thoughtfully composed, can speak volumes in a whisper – drawing emotion, focus and atmosphere not through nuance and precision.

Creativity, refined

Outside the luxury sector, we’ve explored how lighting can support entirely different kinds of experience – creative, collaborative and unconventional. In one recent sound studio project, we used sinuous LED bands to mimic the rhythm of a soundwave, drawing people through the space like a score. There, creative lighting became choreography – guiding, prompting, energising.

What we took away was unmistakable: lighting must flow – in form and feeling –guiding the emotional journey as much as the physical one.

Combe Royal – design and procurement by OCCA | Image credit: OCCA

Light as a conductor

Whether it’s a grand chandelier casting balletic shadows across a ballroom, or a single pendant glowing like a candle above a nightstand, lighting conducts feeling. It leads, lingers and, ultimately, defines how a space is felt and remembered.

At OCCA, lighting is very much composed. Each flicker, fade and glint is an intentional note in a carefully crafted score. Because the most effective light works quietly, shaping how you move through – and remember – a space.

OCCA Design is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: OCCA