Today, is the day of our assignature “Lighting Stores“, this time with a special lighting collection by Kengo Kuma & Associates.
The crackled texture of Kengo Kuma & Associates’ new lighting collection for Lasvit was created by blowing molten glass into dry wooden moulds.
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To make the long and thin glass pendant lights, the architects blew molten liquid glass inside dry wooden moulds. The heat of the inflated glass burned the wood, which in turn left the crackled imprints on the glass.
The technique was discovered during a research trip to Lasvit’s factory in the Czech Republic, where the architects carried out a series of experiments. The results produced from the dry wooden moulds reminded Kengo Kuma’s team of the ancient Japanese technique of shou sugi ban or yakisugi, where wood is charred to preserve it and prolong its life.
“Because of the dry properties of the wood and very high temperatures of liquid glass, the inner side of the mould was on fire,” Kengo Kuma & Associates, chief manager Marcin Sapeta.
“There was this magic moment where you are able to capture this living texture of the wood inside the glass.”
As the moulds can only be burned and used once, each of the lights features different textures, with varying imprints and depths of lines.
Groups of the lights hung together emphasise these subtle differences.
By making connections between the historical method from Japan with techniques in Lasvit’s glass-blowing factory in the Czech Republic, the architects believe they have created a more substantial design.
“We are able to put the soul and have more identity and more story behind it than just design itself,” Sapeta said. “We feel design with background, tradition, craftsmanship has much more power.”
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Find out all about this Spring’s lighting inspirations and the best lighting stores with DelightFULL‘s latest Interior Design Trends: Spring 2017 e-book! Visit us also on Pinterest and do not forget to come by everyday, we will have the best lighting suggestions for you and your home!
