yasuhiro suzuki spins silk cocoons into light fixtures

yasuhiro suzuki spins silk cocoons into light fixtures
all images courtesy of yasuhiro suzuki

‘re-cocoon’ is a project by yasuhiro suzuki that features lampshades directly moulded from silk cocoons. the idea for the work derived from the designer’s curiosity of silk as an architectural material. through thorough research on the textile’s production and advantages, he realized that it is extremely lightweight, heat resistant, and durable. what has resulted is a series of lighting fixtures created through the use of a custom-built machine with a power drill that grabs strands from the cocoons placed below in a boiling pot of water. the strings are then rotated around a formwork, undulating or rigid, that negotiates the way that the lamp will be illuminated. afterwards, it is removed from the instrument and maintains its shape by utilizing a natural glue-like protein called sericin. for the process, suzuki said, ‘I can continually spin approximately 1.5 kilometers of fiber from each cocoon, which allows me to then produce these lamps. each lamp is completed only from the natural properties of silk. therefore, this light is biodegradable and this project is sustainable.’ 

the cocoons are boiled and placed on the machine

spinning machine detail

wave light

wave light detail unlit

wave light texture and interior lit

mesh lamp has no structure inside because of silk’s glue protein, sericin

mesh lamp detail, flexibility, and durability

twist light

twist light detail with its polygonal forms that manipulate light

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.