willem heeffer up-cycles washing machine to create drum lamps

willem heeffer up-cycles washing machine to create drum lamps
all images courtesy of willem heeffer

re-purposing old washing machine drums, finnish design willem heeffer has used the up-cycled objects to create this collection of colorful lamps. the design is founded on three principles: locally sourced and recycled materials, products that are hand-made to the highest standard possible and the reinvention of something that is totally disconnected from its past.

‘when i work with old materials i take them out of context, use it in an unexpected way to create something new. the goal is to first see a beautiful product after which you discover the history behind it. only then the products are no longer viewed as trash and have become design pieces.’ says the designer.

powder coated in six different colors and suspended by 1mm thick cables, the drum light seems to hover in the air. the fabric braided electricity cable matches the color of the base and the lights are fitted with acrylic sheets to softly diffuse the light – it is also available in an LED version. the drive wheel at the back of the machine is placed inside the piece to house the t5 circular tube to give an efficient light output. the drums are salvaged from the local recycling centers through the labor intensive process of removing them from the washing machines, giving the objects a second life and as a result the final product is made from 90% recycled materials. 

drum lamp in soft pink

drum lamp in white

drum lamp in green

drum lamp in grey

drum lamp in blue

drum lamp in orange

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.