Studio · interview
About Bright Companions
Five questions for the Basel practice behind brightcompanions.sbs — how we plan residential light, not showroom catalogues.
Interviewer
Why open a lighting studio in Basel instead of selling fixtures alone?
Studio
Lena Meier spent years seeing kitchens with one cold downlight and stair niches that went black when the timed landing lamp clicked off. Bright Companions Lighting opened in 2018 to treat light as a room plan. Tomas Berger joined from theatre work with a habit of measuring lux at the table, not guessing from product sheets.
Interviewer
What do you notice first in a Rhein-side or Kleinbasel flat?
Studio
Rhein rooms flood with water glare at midday, then drop hard at dusk. Courtyard rooms in Kleinbasel stay dimmer year-round. We record both extremes on one visit so evening scenes do not fight morning light. Shared facade rules shape what we propose outdoors.
Interviewer
How do Ambient, Task, and Accent actually get decided on site?
Studio
Window orientation, ceiling height, and existing switches come first. Ambient fill is sketched next, then task at counters and desks, then modest accents at entries. Circuit groups follow those layers so dimming stays simple for everyday Swiss household use.
Interviewer
Do you install the wiring yourselves?
Studio
No. We deliver design schedules and scene notes. Licensed electricians handle circuits under Swiss rules. We can join a site check during hang so positions match the drawings. Fixtures are purchased at public CHF prices — we do not take product markups.
Interviewer
Where can someone meet you?
Studio
Freie Strasse 45, 4001 Basel. Write [email protected] or call +41 61 555 7723. Visits inside the city are by appointment after the fee is clear.