An assemblage of colorful, confectionary lights illuminated a corner of this year’s Salone del Mobile 2023. Studio Thier & van Daalen’s GRID pendant lights are mouth-blown glass crafted into knobbly shapes resembling an assortment of super-sized hard candies (in fact, to this writer’s eyes, they immediately evoked fond memories of a favorite childhood confection alongside the bittersweet memories the shapes are associated with the fruit flavored treats) – literally a light-spirited manifestation of illumination.
Photo: Studio Pim Top
Studio Thier & van Daalen explored various glass shapes and structures to fashion a mesmerizing array of imaginary projections and reflections illuminating from the bulbous, structured glass surfaces. An imaginative eye may see cloudy skies, rippling water, or morning dew glowing forth in a soothing and hypnotic effect glowing from these pendant lights onto nearby surfaces.
Photo: Studio Pim Top
Photo: Studio Pim Top
The bulbous handblown glass wares intentionally retain imprints of imperfection.
The round structure in the glass is created when the red-hot, almost liquid bubble is on one side pressed into the brutalist steel construction. Directed by the designers, the right combination of temperature, air pressure, and gravity leave a soft imprint of the structure in the glass.
When light is projected across the textured pendant glass, variances in roundness and thickness across the glass surface become visible.
To further enhance and complement the GRID pendant light’s enchanting light shaping presence, the studio developed a custom spherical LED spot (both dimmable and set to a warmly rated 2700°K) to accurately project light where desired, while also doubling as mounting bead.
Iris van Daalen & Ruben Thier
The GRID pendant light was on display at Salone del Mobile within the Dutch corner (aka, Isola Design) of the annual international design fair.
Source: design-milk