raw edges introduces eco-conscious sculptural mesh lighting series at london design festival

Raw Edges Unveils LightMass^ illuminating object collection

Raw Edges Design Studio’s LightMass^ collection, debuting at the 2024 London Design Week, reimagines lighting with minimal form, weight, and environmental impact. Named after the weight of its materials, the collection features voluminous yet ultra-light structures that blend innovative design with sustainable fabrication. Founders Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay created LightMass^ in response to the shift in lighting technology, producing sculptural, openwork designs made from a bio-based, recyclable filament. This collection includes customizable pendants, floor, and table lamps, offering unique illumination while minimizing waste.

all images by James Retief courtesy of Raw Edges

sculptural structures reintroduce physical forms in lighting

LightMass^ is a response to the changing landscape of lighting design, where advancements in LED technology have reduced the need for traditional lampshades. The founders of the London-based studio envisioned the lighting series as a way to reintroduce physical form to lighting, creating sculptural structures that enhance interiors without the need for diffusing or concealing light sources. ‘Structural forms help define a space,’ the designers explain. ‘Even though LEDs no longer require shades, there remains a need to furnish space with visual elements that can still shape the environment.’

At the heart of the LightMass^ collection is an intricate mesh surface, which Raw Edges has developed using advanced fabrication techniques. The pattern is digitally designed in one continuous movement, drawing inspiration from the elegant frameworks of Victorian greenhouses and the engineering of bridges. The pieces are fabricated through FDM (fused deposition modeling) technology, producing flat sheets that are then transformed into their final three-dimensional forms. This method ensures precision and minimizes material waste.

Raw Edges Design Studio’s LightMass^ collection debuts at the 2024 London Design Week

mesh fixtures create patterns of light and shadow

Despite their striking size and presence, LightMass^ structures maintain a minimal environmental footprint. Each piece is crafted from a durable, bio-based biopolymer blend, which is both renewable and recyclable. The openwork design not only adds to the aesthetic appeal but also reduces the material and weight required for production. The FDM additive manufacturing process further supports sustainability by eliminating excess waste during fabrication.

When not illuminated, LightMass^ fixtures resemble delicate, suspended sculptures, evoking the look of airborne line drawings or mobiles. However, when switched on, the mesh surface interacts with light to cast intricate patterns of light and shadow across the room, enhancing the atmosphere with dynamic visuals. The flexibility of the LightMass^ design process allows for customization in terms of size, pattern, and color, making it an ideal choice for site-specific projects and collaborations with architects and interior designers. The launch collection includes a variety of forms, such as pendant lights, floor lamps, and table lamps, each designed to integrate seamlessly into diverse interior spaces while offering the opportunity for personalization. This structure ensures the information flows logically while keeping each section focused on a specific aspect of the LightMass^ collection.

named after the weight of its materials, the collection features voluminous yet ultra-light structures