It may only be in its fourth year, but the LAMP (Lighting Architecture Movement Project) indie design competition has this year attracted some truly impressive finished luminaires and prototypes from all over the world. Now the program, which aims to promote and connect talent to new markets, has shortlisted the entrants to the final 10 in each of three categories: Student, Emerging and Established designers.
Entrants were challenged to design on the theme of “Cosmic” for the 2016 edition, and one can say that all the finalists really are, ahem, stellar. The winners won’t be announced until November 3, but in the meantime, we take a look at some of our favorites from the shortlisted submissions.
Antitesi
Antitesi, by Luca Mazzon and Alessandro Dadone (Emerging)
A representation of both the scientific and mystical views of the universe, this pendant reads like a contemporary artwork with its single light source directed onto a resin disc sandwiching dichroic film to cast a disc projection of a different color onto the wall.
Black Hole Lamp, by Dario Narvaez and Anthony Baxter (Established)
Made of stainless steel and silicone, this clever floor lamp depicts a black hole as an unseen force drawing light down to a single point in space with its intensity settings. In the full “on” position, the lamp’s reflective disc is fully illuminated by a ring of LEDs. As it’s dimmed, the light looks as if it’s being sucked into the black hole as the center gets darker, until it’s finally powered off to go completely dark.
Black Hole Lamp
Carbolight, by Marzieh Noorani (Student)
This suspension luminaire, which looks equally at home resting on the floor, explores the hidden geometry in the cosmic with a complex composition of carbon fiber strands impregnated with epoxy resin and a central light source that produces some intriguing, dramatic light-and-shadow-play.
Carbolight
Diaphanous, by Matthew Kennedy (Established)
Switched on, a circular LED array spreads light through the acrylic waveguide of this pendant to reveal the actual night-sky star patterns as viewed from the northern hemisphere. The constellations are laser-etched onto the waveguide, which measures 900 millimeters in diameter.
Diaphanous
Equilibrio, by Giulia Liverani (Emerging)
Pondering how forces are in a continuous state of equilibrium, Liverani conceived a fixture that plays on magnetism and gravity with two sides. One is mounted onto the ceiling while the other onto the floor, and when these two components come close together, they connect via the magnetic force. The luminaire is made of aluminum tube, sanded Plexiglas, anodized aluminum and magnets.
Equilibrio
Jax Lighting System, by Mark Kinsley (Established)
The familiar game piece of the same name inspired the form of this elegant yet modern high-precision aluminum chandelier: Cross-hubs connect rods and illuminate the crystal prism points that, in turn, project starbursts onto nearby walls, and the configuration of the chandelier ultimately evokes connections of constellations in an abstract manner.
Jax Lighting System
Limitless, by Bonnie Yau and Ida Lei (Student)
A universe full of endless possibilities is the theme of this wall luminaire, which allows users to manipulate its components to create an entirely unique composition. The fixture is made up of illuminated acrylic sticks that are sandblasted at the sides. Linear guides keep the sticks vertically aligned as users raise or lower them.
Limitless
Ramus, by Alex Brown / Rakumba Lighting (Established)
Representing an interlinking constellation of lights, this contemporary chandelier is really a system of connecting independent modules. Constructed with die-cast and extruded aluminum with sandblasted acrylic lenses, Ramus can sport up to five branch arms.
Ramus
© Treacy & Eagleburger Architects PC
Synodic Sconce, by Neal Aronowitz (Established)
This unique arced wall fixture presents hand-blown glass globes painted black partially, fully or not at all to express the waning, waxing, full and new moon phases, while its background is finished with black Galaxy Granit to evoke twinkling stars and complete the celestial dance depiction.
Synodic Sconce
Judges of the 2016 competition included international designers and lighting designers of varied backgrounds: Jakub Zak, Patricia Urquiola Studio; Phillip K. Smith, III, PKS3; Ellie Niakan, lead architectural lighting designer, B. Interior Architecture; Allison Mills, owner, Inform Interiors; Andrea McLean, Andrea McLean Design Office; Rosie Li, Rosie Li Studio; Joana Bover, Bover; and Niels Bendtsen, Bensen.