Tag Archives: pendant lamp

These playful pendant lamps are like a metaphor for finding balance in life

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Everything in nature exists in equilibrium, at least without the interference of mankind. The passing of the seasons, life and death, hot and cold, all of these seem to balance each other out. Even when there seems to be chaos or imbalance, nature always finds a way to harmonize things. Balance just feels natural to us, and many people try to find ways to bring that into their lives, both on a psychological level as well as aesthetically. It doesn’t always work the way we wish it did, but we always hope that our life will find its way back to equilibrium, just like these vibrant and colorful lamps that bring not just light but also a delight to our eyes.

Designer: J Schatz

Balance isn’t that easy to achieve if you’re standing on something that’s meant not to stay still. There’s nothing more unsteady than a plane on a circle, and yet that has been the kind of balancing act that has entertained people for centuries. Named after the Italian word “balance,” the Bilanciato Pendants translate that playful dance into something that will bring your ceilings to life.

Made from glossy handcrafted stoneware, the Bilanciato lamp is made of two parts that directly translate to that balancing figure. The flat-sided ring serves not only as the visual center but also as the fulcrum of the lamp. On top is a hollow tube where fully dimmable warm white LED lights reside, emitting light through six-inch slits on both sides of the circle.

In its resting state, the lamp is already quite striking with its specular surface and playful colors. Seven colorways of contrasting hues give a lone lamp an exuberant character, much more when a few come together for a lively medley of shapes and colors. The light reflecting off the glossy stoneware adds to that character, finding a way to convey feelings of joy and fun even when hanging still from the ceiling.

It takes very little for the lamp’s innate balance to be disturbed. A soft breeze or an accidental touch of the hand can easily knock it off its equilibrium. Over time, however, the lamp finds its way back to its restful, symmetrical state, almost like sending a message that life doesn’t always stay in disarray for long.

The Bilanciato Pendants are utterly simple, just two shapes made from the same material. It is also, however, a testament to the power of the human mind to see and associate a deeper meaning to a composition, whether or not the designers embedded such ideas into their works. Whether standing alone or in a group, these lamps definitely bring a bit of cheer to any room, balancing the darkness with light to create a bit of harmony in people’s lives.

The post These playful pendant lamps are like a metaphor for finding balance in life first appeared on Yanko Design.

These fuzzy pendant lights are made from stacked felt cut-offs

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Whenever we try to make something, there will always be materials that are cut off, left unused, and ultimately thrown away. Whether it’s paper, wood, plastic, textile, or even metal, these wasted materials end up hurting the environment sooner or later, whether directly or indirectly. There is now a more conscientious effort among manufacturers and designers to pay attention to such wasted resources, either by reducing their number or reusing them for some other purpose. The former requires smarter and more ingenious designs that utilize every inch of a material, which can sometimes be more difficult than it sounds. Fortunately, recycling and upcycling cut-offs can actually be easier, especially if you can combine them into interesting shapes that serve as the foundations of beautiful furniture and lighting fixtures such as these hanging lamps.

Designers: Anthony Frank Keeler, Sarah Coleman, Wisse Trooster

We saw Stackabl earlier this year as one of those efforts to upcycle factor off-cut felt. More than just a specific collection of chairs and couches, however, it was actually a tool that lets you design your own seat using stacked layers of material. Given their textile origins, seating furniture seems to be the most immediate application for this tool, but now you can also use the configurator to design comfy-looking lamps to hang from your ceilings.

Stackabl is like a DIY tool for designing your own pendant lamp. It lets customers dictate different parameters like the length of the lamp, the diameter of the “discs” of felt, and even where the actual lights will be located along the stack of material. Of course, you can also mix and match different colors, creating a composition that is as harmonious or as discordant as you like. You don’t even have to be limited to a single disc size since you can shrink or grow the circles anywhere along the length of the lamp.

The result is a modular pendant lamp that is both striking and sustainable. It’s almost too easy to compare it with a tower of pancakes if not for the more earthy tones that the material has. Since no two configurations are identical (unless you intend them to be so), each Stackabl pendant lamp is immediately unique and personal. The lamps also convey feelings of warmth and fuzziness because of the woven felt as well as the diffused light. It makes for a perfect mood-setter for areas that need to feel cozy and comfortable.

It’s not just the upcycled felt that’s environment-friendly, even though it’s the main focus of the Stackabl system. The aluminum used to hold things together is also upcycled, and the LEDs that provide illumination are considered to be more power-efficient than conventional bulbs. It’s not a completely green product, with the use of acrylic covers to diffuse the light and adhesives to keep things together, but it still takes an important step toward sustainability by giving leftover materials a new home.

The post These fuzzy pendant lights are made from stacked felt cut-offs first appeared on Yanko Design.

This pendant lamp captures the mystifying colors of twilight in its net-like structure

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There almost seems to be a bias towards dawn as that mystical part of the day that inspires creativity or invigorates the mind and the body. In terms of visual stimulation, though, it is twilight that captures the imagination, provokes flights of fantasy, and maybe even evokes a sense of fear of the unknown. Those few minutes when day gives way to night or night to day often paint the sky with colors that seem to blend two different worlds in a magical and sometimes eerie way. That’s the play of light and colors that this lamp tries to capture using a deceptively simple design that belies the intricate details of its construction.

Designer: Soren Blomaard and Anne-Lise Heydra (Atelier Robotiq)

There’s something almost magical in the way that nature paints the sky with colors, something that we humans can attempt to reproduce imperfectly with paints and computers. The way light breaks into two or three hues that blend almost perfectly across the twilight sky is always a breathtaking sight. Of course, a perfect twilight scene doesn’t always happen, so this lamp tries to bring that feeling of enchantment indoors so you can enjoy it 24/7.

The light from the lamp itself doesn’t exactly call to mind the setting or rising sun, but the way that illuminates the structure that encloses the bulb does. Two basket-like forms surround the light source, one larger than the other, creating a visual illusion of shapes and colors that blend into each other, just like the twilight sky. The net-like shapes that seem to float in the air have subtle hints of different twilight colors, like purples, blues, and oranges, allowing you to relive those magical hours anytime you glance at the Twilight lamp.

Beyond the play of light and colors, the lamp’s very construction is partly inspired by the heavens, particularly the designs and materials that we use to fly across it. The shape is formed using aerospace lightweight engineering principles, for example, and the mesh uses highly durable kevlar material. Despite looking fragile and flimsy, Twilight is strong yet lightweight in reality. There is also no excess in its design, with each of the two “bubbles” using the exact amount of lines needed to keep its curved shape, nothing more, nothing less.

Just like the boutique’s UFO fiber pattern lamps, Twilight pays homage to the wonders of our skies. Using both colors and shapes, the lamp conveys the beautiful balance that the twilight sky brings, blending different colors and times together in a harmonious gradient. It’s as if two worlds blend into one during these mystical hours, light and darkness, day and night, warmth and cold. It’s a duality in nature that’s often difficult to express artificially, but the Twilight lamps offer a striking approximation that brings a bit of that magic into homes and interior spaces.

The post This pendant lamp captures the mystifying colors of twilight in its net-like structure first appeared on Yanko Design.

Roly-poly embodies Hungarian culture and history in playful modular lamps

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More often than not, designers will inject a bit of themselves into their creations, sometimes unconsciously, at other times intentionally. One’s history, culture, and learning influence what we do and make, after all, but sometimes there is a stronger desire to pay homage to the past in new and sometimes indirect ways. On their own, these pendant and standing lamps are already interesting and attractive, their play on shape, colors, and light making them stand out as fun art pieces. Beneath that specular surface, however, lies many ties to various parts of Hungary’s art, cultural, and socio-political history, making the Roly-poly more than just a toy-like fixture but also an expression of the country’s best creative minds as well.

Designer: Annabella Hevesi

The name “roly-poly” itself already conveys something less serious, almost whimsical. In some parts of the world, particularly in Eastern Europe, it actually refers to a doll with a round bottom that would wobble on a surface but would eventually return to an upright position thanks to a weight hidden inside. Although these lamps aren’t meant to wobble and tumble in the same way, they still have that playful characteristic of their namesake, bringing a bit of fun to a room thanks to their shape and their color combinations.

The choice of a spherical body and a conical lamp wasn’t just for the sake of resembling the toy, though. The forms and choice of dual colors are marks of the Bauhaus movement that left a strong impression in Hungarian art and design circles. That movement would also influence an architectural style in the 70s that the roly-poly lamps also embody literally.

Although it looks like fragile glass, the rotund bodies of these lamps are actually made from a sheet of metal. To bring out its unique luster, the lamps are fire enameled, a style that became popular in Hungary’s Architectural Enameled Art Camp decades ago. It might be an old method today, but it is also a more sustainable process compared to plastic-based powder coating. The enameled steel surface looks almost glass-like thanks to the indirect light cast by the funnel-shaped head.

Two versions of the Roly-poly lamp exist. The standing lamp is a single piece that resembles the toy the closest, slightly wobbling while also giving the owner complete freedom to position the lamp any which way they like. The pendant lamps bring the modular aspect of lighting, offering the possibility of stringing multiple lamps in a vertical fashion. Such an arrangement can even reach the floor, making the Roly-poly look like a statue from that Enamel Art movement rather than a set of hanging lamps.

Roly-poly is part of the designer’s Burnt Collection, designed to put a spotlight on Hungary’s rich art and design heritage, particularly those influenced by the Bauhaus movement. These toy-like lighting pieces are like hidden history books, pointing to important parts of the country’s cultural and economic past. Even without that backdrop, however, the lamps bring a sense of fun and delight thanks to their playful use of shapes and colors, exactly like a roly-poly toy.

The post Roly-poly embodies Hungarian culture and history in playful modular lamps first appeared on Yanko Design.

Pendant lamp sees light bulb enveloped by plexiglass

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I’m not very particular when it comes to choosing lights for my house and most of the time, they’re there already anyway. As long as it gives me illumination in places where I need it, I’m okay with it. But if given the chance to choose light fixtures for my own, I’d like to have some of them to be pretty decorative as well. There are a lot of product concepts for lamps and lights are pretty interesting if they do become available as actual products you can purchase.

Designer: Deniz Aktay

The Nested pendant lamp is a pretty interesting design that makes it look like the light is “captured” inside a fixture. The concept is simple enough: put a light bulb in between two plexiglass sheets. Make it a semi-transparent kind of glass to give it even more of a different kind of look as compared to your ordinary light fixtures. The choice of materials for the design not only holds the bulb in position but it also diffuses the light that comes out so it doesn’t become too bright or blinding.

The product renders show two colors available: green and brown. These may be the best light colors to have on semi-transparent plexiglass. The light bulb is enveloped between the two sheets but part of the glass is molded to the bulb so it doesn’t look flat. You can hang it onto the ceiling and the fixtures match the color and design of the pendant lamp as well. You can have several of the lamps together for a chandelier-type design.

The post Pendant lamp sees light bulb enveloped by plexiglass first appeared on Yanko Design.

These sustainable Mushroom lamps are actually grown into their funnel shapes, instead of being mass produced

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With its oddly rustic design aesthetic, Sebastian Cox’s Mycelium pendant lamps aren’t made… they’re grown.

Mycelium, or the vegetative part of a mushroom, has found itself in the limelight for being a cheap, sustainable, and vegan alternative to suede and leather. If treated correctly, it looks and feels just like leather, offering a cruelty-free and biodegradable alternative that doesn’t have as much of a carbon footprint either. Teaming up with researcher Ninela Ivanova, British designer Sebastian Cox’s “Mycelium + Timber” examines the viability of mycelium as a potential material in commercial furniture design. The mycelium fibers are bound to scrap strips of willow wood, which provides the base and fodder for the fungus to grow. The result is the absolute antithesis of mass production. Designed in part by nature, each lamp is unique, has its own aesthetic, and is beautiful in its imperfections.

The lamps take anywhere between 4-12 weeks to ‘grow’. The scrap willow wood is first sourced from Cox’s own woodland, and cut into fine strips before being woven into shape and placed inside a mold. The mold is then filled with a fungus called fomes fomentarius, which was cultivated using more scrap strips of wood. Inside the mold, the mycelium and wood fuse together, creating a unique type of composite material. “In our workshop, we don’t use composite wood materials because I’ve never been quite satisfied with the binding agent holding the wood together,” Cox said in an interview with Dezeen. “As a result, I’ve always had a kind of fantasy interest in ‘reinventing’ a type of MDF and finding new ways to bind wood fibers into either sheets or mounded forms, ideally without glue.” The resulting lamp is removed from the mold when it’s fully grown and is supplied with 2.5m of oatmeal round fabric braided cable. The entire Mycelium lamp is sustainably produced and entirely compostable.

“It’s not just about the fungus, it’s about the marriage of the two materials,” adds Ninela Ivanova, a researcher who collaborated with Cox over this project. “These two materials have a natural relationship in the woodland, so let’s see how we can exploit that.” The duo plan to continue their collaboration and are working on releasing a full collection of mycelium and wood composite products in the near future.

Designer: Sebastian Cox with Ninela Ivanova

A Luminaire with Starlight

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Provoke your emotions with the beauty of nature exuded by this pendant style luminaire called Ligna. The design is made of solid walnut wood with a sand dune texture and contrasted by tinted anodized aluminum. On one end, a diffuser creates an incredibly warm, amber glow. On the other, thoughtfully placed holes cast a starlight-like aesthetic on the upper interior area for a mesmerizing visual highlight.

Designer: Nolan Schultz

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Suspended Geometry

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Constructed entirely from metal, the U32-1 pendant lamp explores the concept of modern lighting, taking heavily from contemporary urban trends; particularly the tension and structure of the modern city landscape. Composed from two icosahedric geometries the lamp presents a distinct angular dialogue, between surface and frame. However stark, it’s perfectly inviting when paired with a warm Edison-style bulb.

Designer: Shift










Ripples of Light

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An expansion of Richard Clarkson Studio’s nature-inspired designs, the Rain Lamp circulates actual water to create a stunning, shimmering ripple effect. To achieve this, the pendant utilizes a hidden peristaltic pump and LED bulb. As drops fall, they disturb the larger pool to create a mesmerizing and soothing pattern of shapes and shadows. Watch it in action after the jump and own it here!

Designer: Richard Clarkson Studio

rain lamp from Richard Clarkson on Vimeo.

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(Ripples of Light was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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The Lightest Lights

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The Airy Lamp Series is so named for its barely-there materials and faint cut-out form that together make it no more than a subtle silhouette during the day and soft, diffused glow at night. The design kit utilizes delicate Japanese rice paper made durable and strong with lamination. A simple slot-in assembly of the five and six panel designs means each to be shipped flat-pack and the finely cut perforated pattern in each panel allows the user to extrude each panel into their desired form.
Designer: 24° Studio

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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs - Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Shop CKIE - We are more than just concepts. See what's hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design!
(The Lightest Lights was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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