Tag Archives: glass

Traditional Czechoslovakian glassmakers handcraft these multifaceted glass crystal light fixtures

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Bomma implements the Czechoslovakian craft of glassmaking to produce whimsical, yet elegant displays of glass crystal light fixtures.

Bomma is a glassmaking company that specializes in the traditional Czechoslovakian craft of glassmaking to produce customized household fixtures and decorative interior elements. The tradition dates back centuries in the East Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. Bringing it into the contemporary world, modern technologies and bespoke machinery join arms with master craftsmen to deliver fixtures rooted in history built for today’s world.

Designer: Bomma, Dechem Studio, studio deFORM, rückl, Ota Svoboda

Hailing from Dechem Studio, studio deFORM, and rückl, the designers, including Ota Svoboda, behind Bomma’s recent line have been inspired by irregular shapes of the natural world. The craftsmen work with six tons of refined, extra-clear crystal each and every day to add to the company’s eighteen collections of light fixtures. Five different glass crystal compositions comprise Bomma’s Constellations project, which takes one of the five crystal compositions and configures them into bespoke lighting fixtures.

The Pyrite collection, inspired by the mineral of its namesake, is defined by and recognized for its cubic structure. “By blowing a molten organic substance into a precise cold form, the skilled hands of our glassmakers create a unique light fixture of [an] elemental, yet perfect shape,” the glassmakers at Bomma go on to describe, “The gleaming surface of this hand-blown crystal cube is enclosed from three sides by a polished metal component in either silver or gold tones.”

The Dark & Bright Star collection takes fun house lighting and gives it a touch of coordinated elegance to resemble the look of a starry night sky. “The light source is placed within each mouth-blown piece,” the craftsmen describe the textured glass covering as, “the shining center of a precisely cut crystal star.”

Keeping with the same whimsical personality, Bomma’s Soap Mini collection consists of an asymmetrical collection of raindrop-shaped glass light bulbs. When configured in a cluster together, the light bulbs are meant to take on the look of irregular, cartoon clouds of soap bubbles as the designers note, “Each piece is hand-blown without a mold, producing an original in both shape and color.”

Bomma describes the Lens collection as “hypnotic,” for its bulbous glass coverings and shaded color tones. Characterized by two convex lens coverings that encase the bulb’s light source, “two lenses harmoniously encapsulate their interior light source, playing a symphony of reflections.

In close collaboration with Bomma’s sister brand, Rückl, the Metamorphosis collection “combines the talents of these sister glassmaking brands – the breathtaking art of hand-cut crystal from Rückl, with exceptional technical solutions and the principle of light constellations typical for Bomma.”

The fixtures stand out for their snakeskin-like textures that form into the shapes of Chinese lanterns. Coated in muted tones of black, amber, and white, the Metamorphosis collection is all about the mood lighting.

Suspended from the ceiling, the collections of light fixtures create dazzling chandelier displays. 

The craftsmen work with heavy glass fixtures using only their hands and bespoke machinery. 

Requiring a team of builders, the light fixtures are handblown and molded into shape.

Each step of the process is delicate and requires the finest touch. 

The post Traditional Czechoslovakian glassmakers handcraft these multifaceted glass crystal light fixtures first appeared on Yanko Design.

OnePlus 10 Pro brings back a rarely used color and material

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It’s only just February, and we’ve already seen quite a number of new phones unveiled. Unsurprisingly, Samsung hogged most of the spotlight, though its gigantic tablet might actually be overshadowing its flagship smartphone. One of the earliest brands to reveal their hand this year, however, still hasn’t made its phone available outside of China. In the meantime, OnePlus has just announced a new color variant for that still MIA OnePlus 10 Pro, painting it with a combination of white and black that it has unabashedly associated with a panda.

White phones aren’t exactly new, but they have become rarer as the mobile industry moved towards glass back panels. There are a few exceptions, of course, like Apple and its propensity to paint everything white. Google also tried it with what became known as the “Panda” Pixel 2 XL back in 2017. Now OnePlus is borrowing the name and probably has a better reason to call this OnePlus 10 Pro variant “Panda White.”

The new phone color installs a layer of white ceramic on the back of the phone. The camera bump, which looks like a giant monocle for four eyes, is painted black, contrasting sharply yet nicely with the white surface around it. In the middle of that black mass, however, is a white circle that houses the LED flash with another black circle inside it, making it look like an eye. With this color combination, it’s not hard to imagine a one-eyed panda staring at you from the back of the phone.

As mentioned, a white and black colorway for a phone isn’t unheard of but uncommon these days. It’s not that manufacturers don’t want to make them, especially considering how some buyers do actually want this color. As OnePlus explains, it’s actually tricky and expensive to produce white glass panels for phones. Even the slightest imperfection or contamination in the process will have catastrophic effects on the production line.

OnePlus, however, upped the ante even more by using ceramic instead of glass, a material that’s far rarer than white phones. It’s a premium material that feels great in your hand, giving a warm feeling that isn’t affected by how hot the phone is running. It’s also more durable than glass but also more expensive and more difficult to work with. It took the company 100 tries before finally settling on a final design.

It’s no surprise, then, that OnePlus will be limiting this Panda White Ceramic finish to the “Extreme Edition” of the phone, and we expect it to be a lot more expensive than its other forms. Unfortunately, the OnePlus 10 Pro still has to make its way to other markets, including the US, probably by March or April. By then, however, the buzz might have already died out, presuming it even brings this Panda phone outside of China.

Designer: OnePlus

The post OnePlus 10 Pro brings back a rarely used color and material first appeared on Yanko Design.

A tiny glass cabin lets you enjoy Finnish nature in warmth and safety

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For those who dream of living with nature but worry they might not have the stomach for it, this cabin in Finland might have the perfect answer.

Congested cities, crowded spaces, and COVID-19 may have had some people thinking about escaping to the great outdoors. Even the biggest technophiles will probably admit to being in awe in the face of the splendor of nature. Few, however, might have the heart to really camp out and give up on modern amenities for even just a day. An architectural firm in Finland has thought of the perfect solution, presuming you have no qualms about living in a tiny cabin that has glass for its roof and walls.

Designer: Luauri Solo/Pirinen Salo Oy

The Smart Lucia gives a whole new meaning to “living in a glass house,” though the glass, in this case, is far from the fragile material that the idiom implies. The glass here serves as more than just a safe viewing window into Finland’s majestic greenery. The thermal glass, along with glass and floor heating, will save you from frostbite during the country’s notoriously unforgiving winters. Then again, there might not be much to see during that season anyway, unless you’re the type that does enjoy frozen sceneries.

The glass allows natural light, be it from the sun or stars, to be the main lighting source for the cabin, though artificial lighting is also integrated into the structure’s slim steel structures. This has the combined effect of adding layers of lighting that seem almost magical, especially when the glass acts like a prism to break sunlight into its component colors.

In keeping with Finnish tastes, the Smart Lucia espouses a minimalist design even indoors. But where most houses make the living room or the dining table the centerpiece of the home, the bedroom or rather the bed is the pivotal element inside this tiny house. While the glass house is situated and oriented to capture the best views of nature at that location, you can really enjoy that view only when you’re lying in bed.

Of course, privacy can become an issue with a house that has glass for walls, and there are definitely options to address those concerns. Darkened or mirrored glass is available, but that could affect one’s unmarred view of the outside world. The simplest solution would be to have curtains that cover only the lower half of the house, obscuring only portions of the vista when the need calls for it.

Pirinen Salo Oy’s Smart Lucia is perhaps a dream come true for minimalists looking in search of tiny homes in the heart of nature. It probably won’t be the most efficient tiny home and is unlikely to be accessible to most people, even those living in Finland. Its design and concept, however, do spark the imagination and open up possibilities for enjoying the majesty of nature in a safe, comfortable, and modern but hopefully still environment-friendly environment.

The post A tiny glass cabin lets you enjoy Finnish nature in warmth and safety first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sustainable tiles made of recycled glass gathered from old appliances are reducing electronic waste!

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Everyone is chasing the next sustainable material that will change the design industry, from seaweed to mushroom no stone (or plant) is left unturned given how urgently we need alternatives to combat climate change. But at the same time, very few are looking at how to recycle existing sustainable materials like glass that can give them a second life! Common Sands is a design project focused on just that – recycling glass from consumer electronics and turning them into tiles that would otherwise end up with electronic waste.

Glass is sustainable from its origin to its end. While the process of making it contributes to emissions like most things, we can counteract it by extending the life of the glass as it is infinitely recyclable rather than letting it go to waste only to make more of it. Sand is a crucial resource to our technology-focused society, it does a lot more than lay at the beach! We production of silicon microchips, fiberoptic cables, insulation, solar cells, and it is also the primary ingredient in glass which is used in the production of consumer electronic products such as fridges, microwaves, and computers.

Despite strenuous attempts to extract, transport, refine and process sand into complex electronic components, not much is done to recycle these components when the electronic goods are discarded after use partly because there are no clear directives on effectively processing glass from electronic waste. To address this issue, a Norwegian architectural design office called Snøhetta collaborated with Brussels-based Studio Plastique to research and explore the possibility of recycling as well as utilizing glass contained in electronic waste.

After multiple trials, prototypes, and variations, the team developed a standard process for recycling electronic waste glass components as well as an application that integrates its variable material quality – glass tiles! This is where Italian ceramic tile manufacturer Fornace Brioni came in and brought their experience, industrial know-how, production facilities, and potential for scalability to the project to the table. The team is starting with waste glass from ovens and microwaves to demonstrate the aesthetic depth, function, and potential of the recycled material.

Using recycled glass, the team made tiles in two different sizes that were both opaque and transparent. Each one had a unique pattern and look, but all the tiles showed a deeply complex, terrazzo-like material quality. This determined that they are suitable for a wide range of architectural applications, including both surface coverage and semi-transparent partition elements! Common Sands has now turned potential waste into architectural glass tiles that are scalable, infinitely recyclable, and effectively reducing electronic waste!

Designers: Snøhetta, Studio Plastique, and Fornace Brioni

The post Sustainable tiles made of recycled glass gathered from old appliances are reducing electronic waste! first appeared on Yanko Design.

Glass Ship in a Bottle Liquor Decanter: Grog Me!

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Because fancy liquor demands a fancy decanter, retailer of things you didn’t know you needed Firebox is selling this very nautical $70 Ship In A Bottle Decanter. It features a borosilicate glass ship in a 750ml bottle, complete with cork stopper (ignore the glass one in the photos) for a satisfying ‘pop’ whenever it’s rum time. It’s five o’clock somewhere, right? Which means it’s also one o’clock somewhere else and time for my nap.

Obviously, any pirate captain would be remiss to not have a ship in a bottle decanter in his cabin. I mean without one how could his crew take him seriously and not mutiny? Just like the song goes, “Yo, ho, ho, and a ship in a bottle of rum.” It’s practically a requisite for not having to walk the plank.

I really want one, but I’m torn. On the one hand, my nautical/tiki themed office pretty much demands this ship in a bottle decanter be on display. But on the other hand, a hook. Get it? Pirate joke! Yarrrrrr!

[Firebox]

Monopoly Glass Edition Features a See-through Game Board

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Every other edition of Monopoly exists, so why not one with a glass board? Monopoly Glass Edition from the WS Game Company features a 16″ x 16″ tempered glass game board along with diecast zinc game tokens and translucent houses and hotels. Fine, but I get to be banker, and I will be wildly misappropriating funds to my own benefit.

Glass is cool, but if they really wanted to get fancy, they should have made the board out of crystal. And all the game tokens and houses and hotels out of precious gemstones. I mean, what else are eccentric billionaires going to spend their money on – going to space for five minutes?

Of course, I imagine the real purpose of making a glass board is to add an extra element of surprise and danger when I flip the game after losing. Will I have to use one of my get-out-of-jail-free cards, so my wife doesn’t make me sleep on the sofa? You know there’s a reason I take them from every Monopoly game I come across.

Stunning modern home comes with an all-glass conservatory that intersects through the architecture!

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You’ve never seen a skylight look this beautiful! Meet the Chalet-2, a modern bungalow-style home designed by Ukrainian architect and interior designer, Alex Svyryd. Designed in black, with almost cabin-like proportions, the home boasts of a clean, Scandinavian-inspired design that sort of looks like a rock with a crystal jutting through it. The crystal in question, is the Chalet-2’s gorgeous conservatory, which cuts through the building’s architecture, creating a two-way window that allows outsiders to admire the chalet’s interiors, and the home’s residents to get a stunning view of their surroundings… enjoyed best at sunset with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate between your hands!

The house’s black appearance tends to give it an air of secrecy, but the glass conservatory almost challenges that, providing a beautiful peek into the house’s warm and cozy, wooden interiors. The conservatory even acts as a skylight, allowing light to make its way through right into the house’s living room, illuminating the interiors with a shaft of direct natural light that diffuses all over the house, illuminating it beautifully during the day.

Designer: Alex Svyryd

Sinking Ship Cocktail Glass: You’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat

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Presumably inspired by the Titanic (which also had four smokestacks and sank), this is the Sinking Ship cocktail glass available from FireBox. The $19 drinking vessel has a handblown glass ship inside, so you can pretend you’re Poseidon releasing his wrath upon humanity by swirling the glass to create a whirlpool and making a mess all over the living room carpet.

I’ve heard of a ship in a bottle before, but never a ship in a glass. FireBox suggests mixing a blue curaçao based drink in the vessel and adding a few large ice cubes for Titanic realism or filling the glass with coffee liqueur to resemble an oil spill. Alternatively, fill the glass with red sangria and pretend sharks are having a feeding frenzy.

The borosilicate glass is hand-wash only and comes with a warning to add ice cubes carefully and not just toss them in willy-nilly, because the last thing you want is to break off a jagged piece of glass then accidentally swallow it thinking it’s ice. Speaking from firsthand experience, that can really ruin date night.

These ‘melting’ mirrors add a surreal Dali-inspired touch to your interior spaces!

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While the Melt Mirrors aren’t exactly functional enough to really be the kind of mirrors you’d use to check your outfit or fix your hair, they use mirrors to provide a unique effect on plain walls. The curved, almost fabric-esque mirrors hang on your wall like a curtain or towel hangs on a hook, creating an interesting effect by looking like a portal into another dimension. These mirrors ‘drape’ themselves on wooden dowels and instantly turn blank walls into conversational elements.

The mirrors explore “reality vs. perception” through material as well as through form. They come in four shape variants, and are available across multiple glass-colors, including Clear, Bronze, Peach, and Black-tinted glass options. The wooden dowels come in dark walnut and light oak wood options too, really helping customize your ‘melting mirror’ to suit your space. Perfect for indoor as well as outdoor use, the mirrors are best placed on a plain wall, facing a dramatic arrangement like a rug, planter, pool, or the skies. That allows them to reflect what’s in front of them, instantly turning your boring wall into something more attractive and surrealist!

Designer: Bower Studios

Star Trek: The Next Generation Whiskey Decanter Set

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Because boldly going where no man has gone before is excuse enough for a cocktail, this is the Star Trek: The Next Generation 5-Piece Whiskey Decanter Set from Robe Factory and available on Amazon for $100 (affiliate link). Jim Beam me up, Scotty.

The set includes a 26-ounce decanter etched with the United Federation of Planets logo along with the USS Enterprise’s NCC-1701-D designation and delta shield. The 10-ounce tumbler glasses also include the Enterprise’s designation as well as the delta shield, and the whole set has a unique curve to it so it’s clear they’re from outer space and the future.

Call me old fashioned, but I drink my whiskey straight from the bottle it comes in. That way I don’t have to wash any extra glasses, because I don’t live in the future and my apartment doesn’t have a dishwasher. Well I mean it does, but I’m it.

[via GeeksAreSexy]