Lighting The Way For Design

How A Small Team Is Shining A Big Spotlight On The Nuances Of Movement

Byluum is a contemporary lighting studio,” explains Mathew Hardwick when we catch up with him, “through our work we try to capture movement, a snapshot in time, like the fall of raindrops or the explosion of a firework.” Their designs are delicate and thoughtful, from soft flame effects within delicate bubbles to modern sculptures made of geometric metal shapes.

Plume1
Plume2
Plume

They’re striking and playful though the team take lighting very seriously, “we try to be sensitive to the relationship between architecture and light, focusing on delivering dynamic lighting and impactful design,” Mathew says. This balance between function and beauty is evident in the Flame, Bangle and Raindrop designs. They are elegant focal points but they play a role in lighting themselves and the space around them. They provide space for light to bounce and expand, for the eye to wander and imagination to flow.

WillKateNewYork

Below, we speak to Mathew about our three favourite designs.

The Plus: Tell us a bit about Byluum.
Mathew Hardwick:
The studio was founded in 2014 on the shared vision and experience of Andrew Watson, director of a successful lighting manufacturing company and Chris Fox, original designer and creative director. Our designs could be described as playful, we try not to take ourselves too seriously.
We work in a variety of ways for a wide range of design conscious clients, from designers to private clients. We try to be sensitive to the relationship between architecture and light and focus on delivering dynamic lighting and impactful design across a range of sectors including hospitality, commercial, public and residential spaces.

Finale Installation
Finale
Finale

TP: How big is the team?
MH:
Our team is small but growing rapidly and is made up of a mix of product designers, technicians and project managers. Alongside the technicians in our own manufacturing facility, we work with European artisans, craftspeople and producers to realise our lighting, drawing on a collective spirit and address book of first class manufacturers.

Flame1
Flame

TP: What inspired Flame?
MH:
Flames form is directly inspired by the process that is used to make it. Borosilicate glass is heated by a high temperate flame and then inflated with gas, like blowing up a balloon.

The Wilde
The Wilde
The Wilde
The Wilde

TP: Talk us through Bangle – why the name? Why do you think we are so mesmerised by geometric shapes?
MH:
Reinventing striking wallpaper patterns from the 70’s geometric patterns are moving from the walls into lighting and home accessories. They are striking, versatile and add a strong focus to any room. The name Bangle is simply a reference to geometric jewellery from which the design was inspired.

Bangle2
Bangle1
Bangle

Raindrop Render
Raindrop

TP: What was the creative process for Raindrop?
MH:
We all know the simple and elegant shape of a raindrop, but it’s hard to see when it’s pouring it down. With the idea of freezing time, raindrop captures this form for us to study. We started experimenting with raindrop shapes in CAD, arranging them into a cloud that looked natural, quickly moving to 3D printed drops for us to check shape and scale. Our glass blowers then create patterns from these 3D prints to check again the glass as it’s being blown. CAD gives us the arrangement of drops, but we always reposition by hand until we are happy with the overall form of the shower.

Raindrop1
Raindrop2


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