Salta, Argentina. By Sofía Boccadoro.
Conscious lighting that merges ancestral tradition with contemporary language, emphasizing the beauty of imperfection in manual craftsmanship, driven by pre-Columbian inspiration, technology and biodesign.
Barro Lamp is crafted using 3D printing in red clay, turned lenga wood - treated with linseed oil and beeswax - and features a jute textile cable. It aims to revitalize the significance of Native American and local production techniques through modern manufacturing methods, creating a juxtaposition between the ancient and the technological.
The morphology originates from a hand-molded ceramic piece, which is digitized through three-dimensional scanning and subsequently optimized for 3D printing in ceramics. This process facilitates a seamless interaction between the physical and digital realms, integrating the strengths of each.
Courtesy of Pilar Emilia Castro.
The irregularities found in nature, and consequently in manual labor, serve as the primary inspiration for this luminaire. Red clay, a natural material derived from volcanic powders found in river deposits of our region, is traditionally utilized and promotes local pottery craftsmanship. Upholding tradition, with flawed pieces being reincorporated into production until the single firing at 1020 degrees Celsius. Without glazing or a second firing, the goal is to present the material in its true form, without any pretense.
Barro Lamp proposes new ways of thinking about design in a contemporary context, with Latin American DNA and integrating social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Developed specifically for the Salone Satellite Awards 2024, in Salone del Mobile Milano.
"I am drawn to envision Barro as a manifesto that celebrates culture, technology, and being presented as a paradigm shift, not only within Bilu but also in the way we conceive lighting design." - Ignacio Martínez Todeschini.
Design Awards of Salone Satellite, Salone del Mobile Milano. By Ludovica Mandini.
Barro was manufactured in close collaboration with Pilar Emilia Castro, an industrial designer and professor at the Universidad de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. We are grateful to her and the Facultad de Artes at this university for providing us with the equipment, knowledge, and selfless commitment to carry out this project.