BE OPEN BLOG

Nature is no longer treated merely as decoration or reference. Instead, it becomes a system to emulate, a process to integrate, or a feeling to recreate. The following three projects demonstrate how innovation and organic thinking are converging to redefine the role of lighting in contemporary spaces.

There is something almost cinematic about the Aureole wall lighting collection by Rollo Bryant, a studio based between Spain and the Netherlands. At first glance, the sculptural pieces resemble celestial formations or fossilized organisms frozen in motion. Only upon closer inspection does the inspiration reveal itself: the intricate disk florets found inside a sunflower. Rather than reproducing the flower literally, the design abstracts its geometry into a mesmerizing network of swirling curves and raised textures that feel simultaneously organic and extraterrestrial.

That tension between familiarity and alien beauty is precisely what makes the collection so captivating. Bryant draws from one of nature’s most mathematically fascinating structures, yet the final result feels less botanical and more like an artifact discovered from another world. The surface patterns evoke everything from insect hives to labyrinthine topographies, creating a visual richness that constantly changes depending on perspective and lighting conditions.

Material experimentation plays an equally important role in the project’s identity. The lamps are produced using quartz sand, a material traditionally associated with industrial molds rather than finished decorative objects. By using sand as the end product instead of merely a manufacturing intermediary, the collection pushes both 3D printing technology and material application into unexpected territory. The rough, grainy texture gives the lamps an earthy tactility that contrasts beautifully with their futuristic form.

Once illuminated, Aureole undergoes a dramatic transformation. Light radiates from beneath a dark central disc, casting hypnotic shadows across the sculpted surface. The effect resembles a solar eclipse unfolding in slow motion, complete with glowing halos and dizzying contrasts between darkness and warmth. Even when switched off, the pieces function as sculptural wall art. When activated, they become immersive atmospheric experiences that blur the line between lighting and installation art.

While Aureole explores emotional resonance through texture and form, the Sunne lamp by Dutch designer Marjan van Aubel and Sunne approaches innovation from a sustainability-first perspective. Yet despite its technological sophistication, the project never feels clinical or overly engineered. Instead, it transforms renewable energy into something poetic and deeply human.

Designed to hang directly in front of a window, the slender horizontal fixture harvests solar energy throughout the day using integrated photovoltaic cells. At night, it returns that stored energy back into the home as soft ambient lighting. In essence, the lamp behaves like a miniature architectural horizon, absorbing sunlight during daylight hours and releasing it gradually after sunset. It is a beautifully cyclical concept that mirrors nature’s own rhythms.

What elevates Sunne beyond a typical sustainable product is the emotional intelligence embedded within the experience. Through a companion smartphone app, users can choose between lighting modes called Sunne Rise, Sunne Light, and Sunne Set. Each setting recreates the qualities of sunlight at different times of day, allowing interiors to subtly shift between energizing brightness and calming warmth. Rather than treating illumination as static utility, the lamp acknowledges light as something deeply psychological and atmospheric.

The production philosophy behind the project is equally thoughtful. Every Sunne lamp is assembled only after an order is placed, reducing unnecessary waste and avoiding the pitfalls of mass overproduction. The use of durable, easily disassembled components also reinforces the product’s long-term sustainability goals.

If Sunne rethinks humanity’s relationship with energy, Jungle by Warsaw-based studio KABO & PYDO examines our relationship with indoor environments. Since remote work transformed homes into multifunctional living spaces, biophilic design has evolved from trend to necessity. Designers increasingly recognize that people crave visual and emotional connections to nature, particularly within dense urban interiors.

Jungle answers that need with remarkable simplicity. Suspended from the ceiling by soft fabric straps, the design combines a planter and light fixture into a single sculptural object. The glowing capsule-shaped form serves as both vessel and illumination source, allowing greenery to spill naturally around a warm, diffused light. Rather than competing with the plants, the fixture intentionally recedes into the background, creating a calm stage for organic growth to become the focal point.

The brilliance of the project lies in its restraint. Many biophilic products tend to overcomplicate the relationship between technology and nature, layering excessive mechanics or visual noise onto otherwise simple ideas. Jungle does the opposite. Its minimal structure, opaque surface, and gentle glow create a sense of quiet domestic intimacy. The design feels less like a gadget and more like a living presence integrated into the architecture itself.

Although these three projects differ in form, technology, and intent, they are united by a shared philosophy: design should deepen our connection to the environments we inhabit. They react to light, echo natural systems, encourage sustainability, or nurture emotional well-being. In doing so, they remind us that the future of design may not lie in making spaces more artificial, but in making them feel more human.