From the student who uses the space to the designer who shapes it.

In the interview, he explains why this project is so special to him:

How did you come to design the lighting for the new canteen?
When I saw the first designs and renderings from the architectural firm Hampel Kotzur & Kollegen Architekten Ingenieure, the planned ring lights immediately caught my eye. I then sought to discuss the matter with my colleagues. Originally, a competitor from Austria was under consideration, but in the end the argument for regionality won the day: why source a product from far away when the manufacturer is only 1.5 km from the campus? The fact that I’m also an alumnus of the BTU naturally added an extra emotional dimension to the project. So for me, it was a matter of honour, and I was determined that ‘my’ university should be lit up with regional design.

Do you use the canteen yourself?
Yes, and that’s where the story becomes almost magical for me. I ate in this canteen for the first time in 1999 – back then as a guest. In 2003, I began my architecture degree right here, to learn how to design spaces and create atmosphere. The fact that today, over 20 years later, I’m sitting here having lunch with my own Staff Members, whilst our own products hang above us, is an indescribable feeling. For me, this marks the completion of a very personal circle after two decades: from a student using the space to a designer shaping it.

What makes good lighting for you?
Lighting determines whether a space feels pleasant. It was important to us to create an atmosphere that remains calm and inviting despite the size of the canteen. At the same time, thanks to modern LED technology, we’re saving around 90 per cent in energy compared to before.

What advice would you give to prospective students?
I would definitely recommend a taster course lasting at least two weeks. It’s important to experience everyday life in the studio, sit in on lectures and, above all, seek out direct conversations with students and lecturers. I myself originally started out studying Business Administration and Engineering, but realised after just one semester that my heart lay in design, so I switched to studying Architecture.

Stefan Restemeier is delighted with the effect his lights have in the new canteen areas: “It fills me with great pride that, 20 years after I started my studies, I’ve been able to make such a creative contribution to my own university.”