SOLENA Luminaire in the HORTUS Office Building

Close-up view of suspended linear LED light fixtures hanging from a ceiling with exposed wooden beams. The lights are attached by visible cables and emit a cool white glow. The wooden slat ceiling creates a warm contrast to the modern lighting elements.
Persbericht
03/03/2026
Dornbirn, Austria

Zumtobel Anchors Light in the Architectural Design Concept

Zumtobel introduces the SOLENA pendant luminaire, developed specifically to meet the needs of the HORTUS office building at the Switzerland Innovation Park in Allschwil, near Basel. The luminaire was created in collaboration with the responsible architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron and lighting planning partner Reflexion, as part of a design process that integrates structural, energy, and material requirements directly into the architectural concept. Lighting is not considered an afterthought but rather an integral part of the building’s structure.
The multi-story timber-frame construction with rammed earth ceilings is based on renewable and recyclable materials, forgoes a conventional concrete basement, and achieves energy-positive operation, enabling the energy bound in the building materials to be amortized within 31 years. These parameters define the architectural framework within which lighting must also be considered as an integral component of the building system. The supporting structure, the thermal mass of the earth ceilings, natural humidity regulation, and the integration of renewable energy sources form a system in which spatial quality and energy performance are inseparably linked.
This configuration has specific requirements in terms of the lighting system, as it has direct impact on energy balance and room climate, while the flush-mounted material concept of wood and earth excludes visible technical elements. Light, sensors, and control systems must therefore be integrated into a single structure. “The lighting concept is part of the basic design and contributes to minimizing energy consumption. At the same time, sensors had to be integrated without burdening the ceiling with devices or cables,” explains Alexander Franz, Associate at Herzog & de Meuron. This setup fundamentally shifts the role of lighting. In the HORTUS building, light is no longer an added feature but rather an infrastructural layer of the building itself.
Bright, modern office space with exposed wooden beams and large windows overlooking a green landscape with hills in the distance. Several desks with office chairs are arranged throughout the room, some equipped with monitors and mobile drawer units. Multiple green houseplants are placed on shelves and next to the desks. The atmosphere feels open, tidy, and natural due to the extensive use of wood and abundant daylight.

Development in Collaboration Between Architecture, Lighting Planning, and Industry

The development of the SOLENA luminaire follows an iterative approach, with ongoing adjustments between partners from architecture, lighting planning, and industry. An early prototype based on a design by Reflexion founder Thomas Mika serves as a touchstone for the interaction of architectural intent, lighting design, and technical functionality. Only on this basis could further refinement take place. Thomas Mika describes the central challenge of this phase: "The task was to develop a technically complex solution that would naturally integrate into the material and architectural clarity of the building.” A crucial aspect becomes clear: while complexity remains in the SOLENA luminaire, it is constructively bound. Its architectural impact arises from the deliberate reduction of visible technical parts. Through joint workshops, the partners developed the concept of a connected luminaire structure that takes on operational functions beyond lighting. The luminaires communicate with one another, respond to daylight and presence, and monitor parameters such as acoustics, temperature, or CO₂ concentration. Usage, energy balance, and comfort are thus integrated into a building management system.
Exterior view of a modern office building at dusk or night. Through large rectangular windows, a brightly lit interior with exposed wooden beams and ceiling structures is visible. The facade appears dark, likely clad in metal or wood. Plants can be seen in some of the windows. The warm interior lighting contrasts with the dark exterior and the bluish evening sky.

Construction as a Result of Architectural Requirements

The formal design of the SOLENA luminaire reflects this consolidation of all requirements. A transparent glass body encloses a centrally positioned load-bearing profile made of folded steel sheet, which houses all the electrical and lighting components and is stabilized by circular spacers. LED boards, precise lens optics, and glare-reducing shades form a broad, dimmable light distribution with a defined color temperature of 3500 Kelvin. A deliberately minimal lateral light emission creates a subtle atmospheric light effect. The large light distribution allows for greater spacing between luminaires, supporting flexible layouts and future reconfigurations of office spaces. At the same time, all materials are dismountable and recyclable. The reduction of material use in the SOLENA luminaire is not only a constructive necessity but directly stems from the sustainability parameters of the building. The choice of materials becomes part of the overall energy and ecological strategy. The luminaire’s construction also adheres to these principles: it is designed for circularity, longevity, and reparability. The fixture is mounted via delicate steel cables and ring-shaped brackets, and multiple luminaires are connected through textile-coated cables. Even transport and packaging are designed with material efficiency and recyclability in mind. The structural openness of the luminaire also allows for adaptations in future projects, transforming it from a project-specific solution to a transferable architectural typology. This adaptability makes it clear that the value of the development lies not in the singular object but in the underlying method.
A woman sitting alone on a modern black lounge chair in a large, dimly lit industrial hall. She wears a light-colored suit and looks upward toward a single suspended linear light fixture above her. The spacious interior features high ceilings, exposed beams, and metal columns, with most of the space remaining dark except for the illuminated area around her.

New Architectural Practice: Zumtobel as a Partner in the Architectural Design Process

“The development of the SOLENA luminaire illustrates a changing role of industrial partners in architecture,” emphasizes Alexandru Zloteanu, Innovation Manager at Zumtobel. “Our technical expertise comes into play at a stage when architectural requirements are formulated and refined, as decisions on sensor integration, maintainability, material selection, and cost-effectiveness influence the design itself.” The project exemplifies Zumtobel Group's sustainability strategy, systematically integrating circular product development, CO₂ reduction, and material-conscious design through Circular Design Rules into the development process. The goal is to combine functional, aesthetic, and ecological requirements throughout the entire lifecycle.
Close-up view of suspended linear LED light fixtures hanging from a ceiling with exposed wooden beams. The lights are attached by visible cables and emit a cool white glow. The wooden slat ceiling creates a warm contrast to the modern lighting elements.

SOLENA at a Glance

SOLENA is a modular pendant luminaire designed for work environments and architecturally integrated lighting solutions. A glass cylinder with a diameter of 70 millimeters and a length of 1500 millimeters encloses a central load-bearing profile that combines optics, electronics, and sensors. The luminaire achieves an efficiency of up to 166 lumens per watt and is designed as a direct/indirect lighting system with glare-free, precisely directed light distribution. The modular, maintenance-friendly structure is based on durable, recyclable materials and allows for different light distributions as well as individual color and texture variations. Integrated sensors measure room-relevant parameters such as air quality, acoustics, temperature, and CO₂ concentration, supporting integration into connected building systems. Mounting is done via ring-shaped brackets and delicate steel cables, allowing for both horizontal and vertical applications. SOLENA was developed in collaboration with the architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron and lighting planning partner Reflexion.

Perscontact

Nicole Vesting
Vesting Communications GmbH & Co. KG
Klenzestraße 7
80469 München, Duitsland
Tel: +49 (0) 172 836 9922
[email protected]
vestingcommunications.com

Juliane Wöhrle
Manager merkcommunicatie en PR
Zumtobel Lighting GmbH
Schweizer Straße 30 
6850 Dornbirn, Oostenrijk 
Tel: +43 (0) 664 80892 6014
[email protected]
z.lighting 
zumtobel.com

Verkoop voor Duitsland, Oostenrijk en Zwitserland - contact

Zumtobel Group Deutschland GmbH Grevenmarschstraße 74-78
32657 Lemgo, Duitsland
Tel.: +49 5261 2120
[email protected]
www.zumtobel.de
ZG verlichting Austria GmbH
Adviescentrum Wenen, Neder-Oostenrijk, Burgenland
Wagramer Straße 19
A-1220 Wenen
Tel.: +43 1 258 2601 0
Fax: +43 1 258 2601 82845
[email protected]
www.zumtobel.at
Zumtobel Licht AG
Thurgauerstrasse 39
CH-8050 Zürich
Tel: +41 44 305 35 35
Fax: +41 44 305 35 36
[email protected]
www.zumtobel.ch

Over Zumtobel

Onze passie is om verlichtingsoplossingen van hoge kwaliteit te creëren die voor totale perfectie zorgen. We zijn ervan overtuigd dat de beste verlichting op elk moment van de dag of nacht de juiste sfeer in een gebouw kan creëren. Wanneer het wordt afgestemd op de individuele behoeften van mensen, wordt licht een ware ervaring. We zijn altijd op zoek naar nieuwe manieren om tot unieke en tijdloze ontwerpen te komen en laten ons inspireren door een ongeëvenaarde creatieve ambitie. Wanneer we werken aan de verlichting van morgen, worden we gedreven door onze filosofie van innovatie en het voortdurend verbeteren van de esthetiek van licht. Met passie, gevoel voor schoonheid en een toekomstgerichte aanpak proberen we voortdurend licht te gebruiken om de kwaliteit van leven van mensen te helpen verbeteren. Het merk Zumtobel maakt deel uit van Zumtobel Group AG, gevestigd in Dornbirn in de regio Vorarlberg in Oostenrijk.

Downloads

Persafbeeldingen "THE EDITIONS"
39.1 MB
Press release "SOLENA-HORTUS" (EN)
4.71 MB