The new 4-star TRIBE hotel, Accor’s young design hotel brand, has opened its doors in Düsseldorf, Germany at the beginning of 2025. Positioned right next to the Central Station, this 146-room hotel revitalizes a historical building which formerly hosted an IntercityHotel. After extensive renovations, it now pulses with vibrant new life, offering affordable luxury and progressive design, all inspired by the inclusive symbol “[+],” representing connection and belonging. This symbol is woven throughout the hotel’s design, from the bar counter up to lighting details.
As lighting designers, we faced the unique challenge of transforming old into new on a shoestring budget. We creatively repurposed existing decorative light fixtures by „polishing“ their surfaces, specifying appropriate bulbs, and repositioning them to interact seamlessly with the new interior design. This approach not only recycled existing luminaires but also made old elements feel entirely fresh and modern.
One of the most engaging spaces in TRIBE Düsseldorf is the Social Hub, blending co-working with leisure in a dynamic, multi-functional space. Its centerpiece draws inspiration from Düsseldorf’s Old Town and its famed “longest bar in the world.” The playful and eclectic mix of decorative luminaires and furniture directly incorporates local culture into the hotel’s communal area, establishing it as a central gathering point for both guests and locals.
Technical lighting had to utilize merely existing outlets due to budget constraints. Our solution was an ingenious layout, carefully choosing outlets that served in relation to the furniture layout and deleting others. Furthermore, the new, smaller-diameter LED downlights were adapted into existing ceiling cuts using special adaptation rings. This allowed for modern technology to be integrated without extensive new installations.
In the gym, it was essential to maintain the grid of previously existing downlights. Instead, we replaced them with bold, diffuse light orbs that create an adequate and diffuse lighting atmosphere suitable for a gym environment, reflecting TRIBE’s cheeky and unconventional approach to design.
The Conservatory, serving as the breakfast room, also utilizes existing electrical outlets. Track-mounted spotlights, along with strategically placed curtains on the ceiling, offer the space a fresh and flexible ambiance.
The hotel rooms also demanded innovative solutions due to restrictions against new wiring or outlets. We optimized lighting by integrating it into furniture, using indirect grazing light at the bedhead to softly illuminate ceilings and spaces. Besides the individual reading lights, the bedside tables are lit by suspended pendants, powered from behind the bed, adding a dynamic and functional lighting element that contributes to the room’s ambiance without the need for additional ceiling fixtures.
Each room type in TRIBE Düsseldorf adheres to a specific colour from a designated palette, adding a layer of visual interest when viewed from outside, where the interplay of light and colour surfaces creates a captivating display.
Overall, the lighting design of TRIBE Düsseldorf creates unique ambiances in both the public spaces and guest rooms by a creative approach using the limitations of a low budget to our favour, which perfectly resonates with the hotel’s vibrant and dynamic ethos.
