With its unique texture and character, timelessness and durability, natural stone has become an indispensable part of today’s designs. Continuing to enter our lives in different ways with the development of technology, natural stone adds meanings that other materials cannot offer with its flexibility in taking different forms and its own story. David Pompa, Hyun Joo Kim, Arnold Chan, Magnus Long, Aleksandar Lazic, Giacomo Ravagli and Benjamin Hubert, which we discussed in our Showcase, are among the names that give life to their designs with natural stone. While David Pompa reflects the unique identity of onyx stone to its lightings, Kim HyunJoo interprets granite with a simple form. Aleksandar Lazic blends travertine with aluminum and Magnus Long pushes the physical limits of marble. On the other hand Benjamin Hubert reveals the production story of natural stone in his lighting design, Arnold Chan and Giacomo Ravagli reflect the duet of marble with metal material in their designs. We have compiled modern lighting designs shaped with many different types of natural stone materials such as marble, onyx, granite and travertine for you.
Lago
“Lago”, designed by Mexico-based design studio Davidpompa, is a classic pendant lighting collection consisting of Onyx stone combined with metal discs. The designer aims to reflect the softness and timelessness of the combination of materials used in lightings that have two different dimensions. While the functional combination of modern and classical forms increases the quality of natural stone, the color harmony between monochromatic materials allows lighting to be used in different areas and functions. Indicates its elegance when viewed closely, and shows its rich depths and transparency when held up to the light, the translucent onyx stone makes both materials stand out from various angles. The installation exhibition, which consists of pictures taken in the onyx mine, where the designer aims to visualize the production process of the very common onyx stone with his “Lago” collection, is a journey to the origin of onyx stone, from water and rocks to dust and cylinders.
Antumbra
“Antumbra”, a touch-adjustable table lamp made of marble, was designed by London-based Magnus Long Design Studio. There are two different colors and sizes of marble used in the design. While on the front of the lighting polished black marble used for cutting the light, polished white marble, were used to diffuse and reflect the light at the back side. The illumination, which appears to be a simple composition of black and white marble pieces when the lamp is turned off, presents an image similar to the solar eclipse observations of ancient time sculptors when the lamp is turned on. The large white marble circle at the back reflects the light, while the opaque black marble circle at the front is perceived as a silhouette by the light reflected from the back. Magnus Long pushes the physical limits of the material with the white marble he uses as a reflector and the black marble he describes as a “mask” for the light source. The cable of the lighting is hidden behind the steel base where the marble stones are placed, and the light level can be adjusted according to the environment via the touch-sensitive switch inside the stone in front.
Alabaster
London-based designer Arnold Chan has created a lighting collection called “Alabaster”, where he combines marble with different materials for Voltra, a lighting brand. Each of the lightings covered with a thin layer of marble on four different metal bases made of bronze, brass, chrome and nickel offers different views thanks to the unique veins and unique texture of the marble. Versatile, easy to use, elegant and intimate lightings have three adjustable light modes such as full light, dimming and candle flame mode. The batteries of the lamps, which do not need electricity to work, can be easily removed and charged. Thus, eliminating the clutter of cables, the designer allows the lamps to be carried anywhere.
Landing
Designed by Korean designer Kim HyunJoo, the “Landing” collection is a table lamp made of granite material. Known as one of the most durable natural stone types in nature, granite is frequently used in decorative accessories because it can be processed easily. On account of granite which does not transmit light directly, Kim HyunJoo created legs for light transmission in circular form lighting. In the lighting, which has a simple and modern form that can be shaped with all kinds of natural stones such as marble and sandstone, the light passes through these legs created by the designer, bringing the unique texture of granite to the fore.
Quarry
The “Quarry” collection, designed by British designer Benjamin Hubert, consists of a series of thin-walled marble pendant lights. The inner surface of the fine marble pendant lamps, carved by hand, reveals the production story and texture of the stone lamp. Utilizing the translucent nature of marble to diffuse the light in the design, the designer highlighted the veined texture of the material and balanced the traditional material by using LEDs suitable for use in large sizes.
Reverse Table Lamp
“Reverse Table Lamp” is a table lamp consisting of a duet of aluminum and travertine stone, signed by Danish designer Aleksandar Lazic, who balances the traditional aesthetic perception with modern ideas. The conical base of the lighting, shaped by travertine stone, is left raw to highlight the flaws of the natural stone material when light is reflected. The light emanating from the bronze-colored aluminum lamp shade spreads evenly on the untreated stone and creates an interesting color play that makes the light appear as if it is emanating from the base with the shadow it creates thanks to its curved form. Thanks to a switch placed to adjust the light intensity at the junction of the base and the lampshade, different options are offered in different places, from dim light to warm light.
Barometre Lamps
Designed by Italian sculptor Giacomo Ravagli, “Barometro” is a lighting collection that emphasizes the artistic relationship between marble, brass and light. While marble is used at the base of the lighting collection, which consists of table lamps with sharp geometries, brass material is preferred in the lampshade part. The contrast created by the natural stone with the brass material combined with the light turned into a dramatic form emphasizing the lines of the marble. The natural color variations in the multicolored marble carefully chosen by the designer add depth to his works, while the sharp geometric forms on the natural stone surfaces give the lightings sculptural look. Each lamp in the collection, in which black, golden yellow and red marble is used, offers unique looks thanks to the unique veins and texture of marble.
