Shou Sugi Ban Lamps

The purpose of these lamps is to celebrate the materials of which they are made from. The lamps are made almost entirely from scrap pine, however experimenting with the Japanese process 'Shou Sugi Ban' to char areas of the wood. The charred pine enhances the natural grain, creating a rich texture and deep colour that contrasts with the lighter, uncharred sections adding character to the lamps. The uncharred base and interior not only provide visual balance but also help reflect the light, making them appear warmer and brighter.

The first lamp was a quick 2-day project and takes inspiration from pine trees themselves, seen through the vertical columns  standing tall with a dark exterior and warm lighter interior. The wooden columns also draw inspiration from classical lantern designs, echoing their form and encapsulating a warm, glowing light.

The second lamp was developed through a series of prototypes, beginning with low-fidelity paper and cardboard models and working up to full scale MDF and plywood mockups. The form takes inspiration from the flowing movements of water, a theme carried over from the river coaster project.

The prototyping process allowed me to explore a variety of different sizes and shapes to fit the  water theme into, ultimately a cylindrical shape best fit the fluid aesthetic and looked affective from from every angle. I decided to experiment by leaving the top open to achieve a lighter ad freer feeling to the lamp.