Designer Miriam Aust of Cologne based lighting design studio DUA presents an unique & unusual combination of a suspended ceiling light made from hand blown glass and a living plant whereby the light becomes a living object in itself. Winner of the Form Award 2012: Tendence in Frankfrut and grand prize winner at the 2012 International Design Biennial in Kortrijk, Belgium, ‘Vase & Leuchte‘ is an attempt to present nature artificially, whereby the living being is used as material and laboratory aesthetics are brought into the living space.
The basic contents of Vase & Leuchte is the need of having the nature at home by means of a plant. In most cases a plant is cultivated in a flowerpot, its stature is controlled and the space permitted. The product is sounding out possible barriers and analyzing how much a plant can be influenced, but still remain natural. A lamp normally is installed in the ceiling above the dining room table, where in most cases a vase is placed, too. Therefore the idea came up to combine both. The light is placed on the table, surrounded by a kind of cylinder, which can be filled with water and decorated with water plants or cuttings. The warmth of the halogen bulb supports the growth of the plant. The roots of the plant form the structure of the lamp shade in which the rays break. So the plant is not only decoration, but also a component of the object.
You fill the hand blown glass body with water (just like an ordinary vase) and plant it the way you prefer. There are no limits to your creativity. Water plants or hydroponics as well as branches or weeds can be used. The highlight of this lamp is its light refraction quality through the roots and the amazing light effects. Isn’t this simply brilliant!
Photography by Tanja Evers
+ DUA