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Our modern lives are filled with artificial light, but there is still much to be learned by observing our world’s ancient light sources. Of course, planets and even more distant stars can barely illuminate our homes, but they can definitely serve as inspiration for interesting design, from their sphere-like shapes to the kind of light they provide. Of all the planets in our neighborhood, Saturn has always enchanted our minds with its beautiful rings, and it has probably served as the muse for many a lamp design. This somewhat spherical lamp, for example, borrows some ideas from the planet’s morphology to create something unique, fun, striking and sustainable, all at the same time.
Designer: Veronica Castellanos Barron
Saturn is not the only planet in our solar system with rings, but it has always been the most distinctive and picturesque. Literally applying that image to a light fixture might not be exactly practical, even for a lamp that hangs from the ceiling. Instead, what SATURNO does is learn from the ringed planet’s morphology, resulting in a more flexible type of design that still retains some of that mysterious quality.
The SATURNO lamp is actually made of three disc-shaped parts that connect together without the use of glue or screws. Instead, there are cutouts that allow the parts to be inserted into each other at right angles. Two are made from walnut wood, while the third is made from resin, which can be any sustainable type. A multi-colored LED strip is embedded in the cutout of this resin disc, providing the light scattered by the resin surrounding it.
The result is a three-dimensional structure that does not look like Saturn, but at the same time bears its shape. That’s especially true when you look at the resin piece face-to-face, with its horizontal line mimicking the light scattered by Saturn’s rings. That said, the lamp won’t stand like this unless it has some support, but it can be tilted at any angle and position thanks to its unique shape.
Unlike the real Saturn, SATURNO’s LEDs can be controlled to display different colors and different intensities, creating an even more pleasant experience that can match the owner’s mood and room design. This means that there will be some electronics outside the LED strip, but it can be kept to a minimum and hidden from view inside one of the wooden discs. The end result is a versatile light fixture that provides a glimpse of heaven right inside your home.
