Circularity in lighting consultancy - from theory to practice

Impact Hub Berlin is a community and co-working space where the concept of circular construction and sustainable building was put into practice. Impact Hub Berlin stands as the first co-working space to implement sustainable building practices of this magnitude. Approximately 70% of all materials have a history or story behind them, and this also holds true for lighting.

The collaboration with LXSY ARCHITEKTEN allowed us at Studio De Schutter to engage in circular lighting planning and to rethink the design and planning approach for the circular economy.

Studio De Schutter’s approach was multifaceted:

Priority was given to the reuse of fixtures from the existing inventory, such as those from the former Impact Hub in Berlin Friedrichstraße, as well as those from partners like Concular. This included converting old fluorescent light fixtures to LED to reduce energy consumption when in use.

Circular planning and construction also encompass what happens to materials, whether they are building materials or lighting fixtures, after they've been used in a project. This is where modular systems come into play. Fixtures consisting of components that are not glued or permanently installed but rather assembled through screws promote maintenance, interchangeability, and ensure the longevity of the installation. Examples include traditional sockets, power rails, or LED strips, where light sources can be easily replaced with many manufacturers offering alternatives.

A third hallmark of this project is the custom-made modular lighting fixtures created from reclaimed industrial wood, linear LED inserts, and indirect LED strips. Given that it's a workspace, glare protection was also considered. The appropriate glare rating is achieved by using flame-retardant mesh for these bespoke fixtures, which is typically employed in the construction industry for entirely different purposes.
The industrial character is visible from the fixtures and reveals some of the story behind the design.

Further attention was also given to harnessing available daylight and lighting controls based on a daylight study, that initiated this project.

This provides a brief overview of the thoughts and approaches behind this circular and sustainable lighting project. Contact us if you would like to know more about how Studio De Schutter could help you, and create sustainable and circular lighting solutions for your project.

 
Sabine De Schutter

Founded in Berlin in 2015 by Belgian born Sabine De Schutter, Studio De Schutter reflects the strong belief that architectural lighting design is much more than just lighting up the built environment.

As independent lighting designers, the studio's focus is on user-centred design, because design is about creating meaningful spaces that positively affect people's lives. Studio De Schutter work focuses on creative lighting for working spaces, custom fixtures for heritage buildings to workshops and installations for public space.The studio's motto = #creativityisourcurrency

Sabine teaches at the HPI d.school, Hochschule Wismar, is an IALD member and the ambassador for Women in Lightingin Germany.

Studio De Schutter wurde 2015 von der in Belgien geborenen Sabine De Schutter (*1984) in Berlin gegründet. Die in Berlin lebende Designerin studierte Innenarchitektur in Antwerpen und Barcelona, hat einen zweiten Master-Abschluss in architektonischem Lichtdesign (HS Wismar) und studierte Design Thinking an der HPI d.school in Potsdam.

Das Studio De Schutter zeigt, dass es beim architektonischen Lichtdesign darum geht, Wahrnehmung zu formen und Erfahrungen zu schaffen. Für Studio De Schutter geht es beim Lichtdesign darum, eindrucksvolle Umgebungen zu schaffen, die das Leben der Menschen positiv beeinflussen. Der Benutzer steht im Mittelpunkt ihres Ansatzes und deshalb lassen sie und ihr Team sich nicht durch konventionelle Beleuchtungsstandards einschränken. Sie arbeiten eng mit ihren Kunden zusammen, um die Vision des Projekts und die Nutzerbedürfnisse zu verstehen und sie mit Licht zu akzentuieren. Das Studio De Schutter hat kreative Lichtlösungen für Arbeitsumgebungen, Lichtkunstinstallationen und kundenspezifische Leuchten in seinem Portfolio. Heute ist es ein vierköpfiges Team von internationalen Power-Frauen, die sich alle leidenschaftlich damit, wie Licht den Raum, die Erfahrungen und Emotionen formt, beschäftigt.

Sabine De Schutter lehrt an der Hochschule Wismar und ist Botschafterin für Women in Lighting (https://womeninlighting.com) in Deutschland.

https://www.studiodeschutter.com
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