The Loop
Studio De Schutter
The Loop
Studio De Schutter
A workplace which demonstrates how sustainability can become a driver for creativity rather than a design constraint has won a 2026 Build Back Better Award in the lighting category.
A workplace which demonstrates how sustainability can become a driver for creativity rather than a design constraint has won a 2026 Build Back Better Award in the lighting category.
The Loop is a workplace, showroom and event space in the heart of Düsseldorf that demonstrates how sustainability can become a driver for creativity rather than a design constraint.
From the outset, the project challenged conventional refurbishment by asking a simple but ambitious question: how can existing luminaires be meaningfully reused without compromising on design, lighting quality or atmosphere? The client's brief summarised this ambition perfectly: ‘It should be sustainable, but not look eco.’
Instead of treating sustainability as a technical exercise or an afterthought, Studio De Schutter placed it at the heart of the design process.
The project followed a clear design hierarchy: first preserve existing resources wherever possible, then transform them into something better, and only introduce new elements where they genuinely add value.
The project demonstrates that circular design is not about compromise, it is about making design decisions from the very beginning.
Rather than replacing the existing office luminaires, they were refurbished and upgraded with high-quality, flicker-free LED technology, extending their lifespan while significantly improving light quality.
Decorative luminaires from another project were reused without modification, while new lighting was introduced only where flexibility or emerging technology added genuine value, particularly within the showroom. Even the visual transformation of the luminaires supports future circularity: instead of energy-intensive powder coating, a reversible foil finish was developed, allowing the luminaires to be reconfigured again in the future without damaging the original product.
Creativity was fundamental to the success of this approach. Rather than hiding the reused luminaires, they became the architectural identity of the space.
A combination of discreet white luminaires integrated into the ceiling and bold black diagonal luminaires creates a distinctive visual language that communicates the innovative character of Ahrend and Office Group. Programmable Casambi lighting scenes allow the same space to seamlessly transform from workplace to showroom and event venue, supporting wellbeing, flexibility and changing user needs throughout the day.
The Loop demonstrates that designers have the power to influence environmental impact long before products are manufactured. By questioning the assumption that existing products must be replaced, the project proposes a new approach to refurbishment, one where creativity and circularity reinforce each other.
The results speak for themselves: 60 per cent lower embodied CO₂ emissions compared to a complete new installation, 41.5 per cent lower project costs, and a modular lighting system designed to adapt rather than be replaced. The Loop demonstrates that the most sustainable product is often the one that
Client: Ahrend Office Group
Lighting Design: Studio De Schutter (LPH 1–8: lighting concept, luminaire development, lighting controls and programming)
Interior Design / Fit-out: Office Group
Sustainability Consulting: Urselmann Interior
Electrical Installation: Elektro Posengis
Lighting Controls: Casambi
Luminaire Manufacturers: Hadler (LED retrofit kits), Regent (track lighting & AI luminaires), Artemide (reused decorative luminaires)
