Lighting Control: A Case Study on the Ahrend x Office Group
How can sustainability, technology and atmosphere coexist within an existing building?
The answer lies in the precise control of light.
For the new Ahrend x Office Group showroom in Düsseldorf, Studio De Schutter developed a lighting concept that saves energy and adapts flexibly through smart Casambi control – from workplace to consultation to events.
💡 Lighting Control as a Bridge Between Architecture and Atmosphere
Architecture is static, light is dynamic.
Especially in a multifunctional space like this, light defines how a room feels and functions.
The former cold white office lighting was transformed into a responsive system that can shift moods at the touch of a button.
Pre-set lighting scenes turn the space into an office, a presentation area or an evening event venue.
The entire lighting system was upgraded with Casambi, making it dimmable, centrally controllable and intuitive to use – offering maximum flexibility with minimal energy use.
🎛️ Preserving What Exists, Redefining Its Effect
Instead of replacing everything, we revitalized.
Many luminaires were reused, technically upgraded and visually reinterpreted.
By foiling instead of powder-coating, we saved significant energy and maintained recyclability.
The bold black variant acts as a diagonal lighting statement across the ceiling, while the white version blends subtly with the architecture.
🔆 Light Quality Without Compromise
All luminaires operate flicker-free with a CRI of 95 and 3000 Kelvin, producing warm, natural and comfortable light.
Additionally, AI-driven spotlights automatically adapt to the color tones of displayed objects, enhancing vibrancy and perception.
“Lighting design means creating change without reconstruction. When light can redefine a room’s identity, true sustainability begins.”
– Sabine De Schutter
🌳 Sustainability You Don’t See but Feel
Circularity and aesthetics go hand in hand.
The retrofit achieved around 60 % CO₂ savings compared to a new build and over 40 % cost reduction.
This lighting concept saves energy during use and preserves resources by extending the life of existing components.
Good design and sustainability are not opposites – light becomes a language of transformation, enabling change without rebuilding.
The Ahrend x Office Group project proves that lighting control is more than technology.
It is a tool to align identity, atmosphere and sustainability.
Through smart Casambi control, a flexible, circular and adaptive workspace was created.
👉 Discover more of our projects
👉 Get in touch for sustainable lighting design in Berlin and beyond
💡 Tip
“Use lighting scenes as an architectural tool. With just a few taps you can transform use, mood and perception – without rebuilding.”
Further Reading
- Casambi – Wireless Lighting Control for Office (PDF)
- DALI Alliance – Sustainable, Smart and Standardized
- Selecting Lighting Control Systems – PNNL Whitepaper (PDF)
