Buschfeld × Less’n’More

Buschfeld and Less’n’More are further developing selected series such as Ethics, Liquid Light, Athene, Ylux and DNA for the 48 V Sense System. The collaboration between two Cologne-based manufacturers brings together technical precision and a culture of crafted luminaires, opening up new possibilities for architects and lighting designers. This partnership began during machwerkschau #4 at machwerkhaus Köln.

The starting point was simple: a red track in the Lichthalle of the machwerkschau, fitted with five luminaires by Less’n’More that had only been provisionally adapted for 48 volts. And yet, the combination felt unexpectedly natural. Many visitors perceived it less as an experiment and more as an existing system. For both teams, this was the moment the question arose: why not take this further?

Buschfeld and Less’n’More share more than just geographical proximity. Both operate at the scale of a manufactory, in small teams, with the conviction that good products should be repairable, durable and usable over many years. This mindset forms their common ground. Their approaches differ: Buschfeld works from the logic of a precise track system, while Less’n’More develops luminaires that combine technical understanding with a more poetic formal language. It is precisely this difference that creates a certain tension and a natural complementarity.

Since the machwerkschau, the adaptation has taken shape. All relevant series are being assessed for the Sense System, with prototypes moving back and forth between the two workshops. Much of the work is in the details: cable cross-sections, the integration of Casambi, and the question of how to discreetly accommodate the electronics. One principle is clear: the identity of the luminaires remains untouched.

For planners, this creates greater scope. The clarity of the Buschfeld track meets the distinctive heads of Less’n’More. Minimal, technically precise – yet open to a warmer, more narrative quality of light. Or, as Less’n’More puts it: Cologne stands for creativity and for the idea that much becomes possible when people come together.