Studio De Schutter Unveils Immersive Lighting Design for Tonhain Music Studio and Concert Venue in Berlin
Tonhain, a new intimate venue for chamber music and professional audio recording, has opened in Berlin as a hybrid studio concept connecting history with contemporary design. Located in the former “Thorwaldsen-Lichtspiele” building, which later served as a sacred space, the venue now houses a concert hall, a state-of-the-art recording studio, and seating capacity for up to 99 guests.
Studio De Schutter was commissioned to create an immersive and flexible lighting concept tailored to the venue’s spatial and acoustic requirements while shaping Tonhain’s visual identity.
“Atmospheric light emerges where technical details are precisely planned.”
— Sabine De Schutter, CEO & Lighting Designer
Architecture as Landscape
The acoustic ceiling, designed by Tietz & Tietz – Architecture & Design, forms one of the defining features of the venue. Its organic geometry — described as a recessed “lake” bordered by two “mountains” — functions both as an acoustic instrument and as a spatial narrative.
This topographical structure established the foundation for the lighting concept. Architecture, acoustics, and illumination were conceived simultaneously from the beginning and tested through a full-scale on-site mock-up. The result is an integrated system where lighting becomes part of the architectural logic rather than an added layer.
Flexibility as a Guiding Principle
The venue’s program demanded a highly adaptable lighting system capable of responding to changing stage positions, multiple performance formats, and variable ensemble arrangements without disrupting the visual integrity of the space.
The solution follows a principle of maximum impact with minimal visual presence. By integrating movable light points directly into the architecture, the design eliminates the need for conventional stage lighting while reducing the overall number of luminaires.
Project Data
Client: Tonhain GmbH
Location: Thorwaldsenstraße 26, 12157 Berlin
Type: Venue, concert hall & recording studio
Completion: 2026
Gross Floor Area: 100 m² hall, approximately 200 m² total
Project Phases: LPH 1–8 including scenography
Architecture: Tietz & Tietz – Architecture & Design
Acoustics: Krämer + Stegmaier Acoustics
Lighting Design: Studio De Schutter
Lighting Designers:
Sabine De Schutter
Vikramaditya Varma
About Studio De Schutter
Belgian lighting designer Sabine De Schutter founded Studio De Schutter in 2015 after completing master’s degrees in Architectural Lighting Design at Wismar University of Applied Sciences and Interior Architecture at the University of Antwerp. She currently serves as a Women in Lighting Ambassador for Germany.
With offices in Berlin and Antwerp, the studio develops bespoke, perception-driven lighting concepts that enhance architecture and shape spatial experiences through a balance of atmosphere, technical precision, functionality, and sustainability.
Since 2022, Vikramaditya Varma has served as Project Lead and Principal Designer. With a background in product design and architectural lighting, he brings more than fifteen years of international experience in lighting design.
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