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.
