Studio De Schutter - Lighting Design

When the creative agency IAM ONO moved into the Am Lokdepot building designed by architects ROBERTNEUN in Berlin, they wanted to have a low-budget, minimal, but graphical and strong lighting solution that is in line with their brand identity and style. 

As in any project, we, as the designers had to work around set parameters like the already existing outlets and a tight budget, while at the same time meeting the lighting requirements for office lighting. As a solution, we developed a series of “light-hacks” with standard off the shelf lighting products with quick delivery times. For Studio De Schutter a “light-hack” is a solution that combines standard lighting elements into a custom fixture. We created these solutions to address the project challenges without compromising on the design. 

Studio De Schutter took inspiration from the translucent multi-wall material that had been used in the facade design from Robertneun Architekten and introduced this material in the kitchen to create a back-lit ceiling. By doing this, the lighting integrates itself in the space, and even becomes a part of the architecture. It even looks like it was always intended this way. For Studio De Schutter, architectural lighting design is about finding functional, yet aestethical and creative lighting solutions that enhance the architecture. 

The second light-hack is a series of light lines composed of standard diffuse linear modules and aluminum profiles, hanging on different levels within the space. These lines provide both lighting to the mezzanine and the ground floor level. At the same time, the light lines play with the height of the space and so catch the eye from afar. In this way, the lighting design communicates the visual and minimal language of this creative studio.

Often lighting is just an add-on to a space. At Am Lokdepot, the lighting not only creates a pleasant atmophere to work in but is also a continuation of the client‘s style. This is what we call „branding with light“.