Lightable was born from the cooperation with Fabien Dumas during our studies at the UdK Berlin. It is also the beginning of a great adventure across 2 continents, 5 countries and 8 cities together with Ingo Maurer who kindly gave us our very first chance.
What is light? »…a physical ray or an electromagnetic wave generated by a light emitting object. Light travels straight and at constant speed within homogen objects same as open space. For parts it will be reflected for others it will be distorted at the meeting surfaces of two different materials.«
Our famost focus was to make things glow, refraining to add any technical features to the objects themselves. We did not intend to light objects, but to enable them to emitt light themselves. Thanks to an appropriate technical solution and some lightspecific physical properties we developed a solution, remarkable in its functional outcome.The solution was an innovative way of transmitting light, which enhances the way we experienced light so far.
Via »total reflection« light (LEDs) is transmitted through the glass top, not visible for the human eye. Placing an object, capable to transmit light, on the glas surface, by neglecting the meeting surfaces through complete flush contact, light emits from the glass surface and enlights the object.
Lightables current presentation is understood as an instalation, however it offers multiple imaginable applications. Think of Lightable as a shopfront display system addressing a major market of highstreet retailers, department stores, perfumerys, flag ship stores etc. Products such as glass table ware, perfume flacons, plastic items etc. could be lit and create a more par- ticular attention. In restaurants, pubs or bars guests would dine with light emitting table ware, or enjoy glowing drinks at the bar counter. Lightable thought could be utilized just for indirect lighting interiors or in public.
Its potential could be seen in its use for contemporary glass architecture: just imagine the head- quarters of »Fondation Cartier« or the »Pyramide de Louvre« in context with this technology. Each and every raindrop would have its trace, each rainshower would create some remarkable fire works.
Protected by Patent Nr. 101 12 519.4.
Year 2001
Client Prototype
Material Wood, glass, Leds and water
Size 120 x 70 x 75 cm
Pictures Andreas Velten and Markus Altmann
