Studio De Schutter has realized the Tonhain lighting concept for a new hybrid music studio and chamber music venue in Berlin. The firm transformed a former cinema and sacred space into an intimate 99-seat concert hall with an integrated recording studio.
This project is distinguished by its holistic integration of lighting with the room’s acoustic ceiling, which is sculpted into a landscape of a recessed 'lake' flanked by two 'mountains.' The lighting design was developed in tandem with the architecture and acoustics from the very beginning, with full-scale mock-ups used to test and refine the system. The Tonhain lighting concept's design allows for movable light points that eliminate the need for conventional, obtrusive stage lighting. In other words, Studio De Schutter's approach produces an integrated system where light is woven into the architectural logic itself, thereby enhancing the spatial narrative without visual clutter.
Image Credit: © Studio De Schutter / Clara Evens
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Integrated Venue Lighting
- Architectural lighting embedded into ceilings, walls, and acoustic systems creates new possibilities for performance spaces that eliminate bulky stage hardware while preserving technical flexibility.
- Hybrid Recording Halls
- Small concert venues that function as professional recording studios signal a shift toward multipurpose cultural spaces with premium acoustics, adaptable production workflows, and more efficient real estate use.
- Acoustic-driven Interiors
- Design concepts shaped around sound performance are redefining interiors as immersive technical environments where lighting, materials, and spatial form operate as one cohesive system.
Where This Applies
- Live Entertainment
- Concert halls, clubs, and intimate performance venues are positioned for cleaner, more adaptable production environments as lighting becomes part of the architectural infrastructure.
- Architecture and Design
- Studios specializing in cultural spaces can differentiate through integrated systems that merge aesthetics, acoustics, and technical performance from the earliest design stages.
- Audio Production
- Recording facilities connected to live venues reflect a growing market for spaces that support simultaneous audience experiences, high-quality capture, and flexible artist services.
