Obsessed with the idea of creating an imperfect, organic and naturalistic lighting object, Melt was created in collaboration with FRONT – a Swedish design collective. Melt is evocative of molten glass, the interior of a melting glacier, or images of deep space.
Melt lights are created through a process of blow moulding and vacuum metallisation to achieve melted orbs with abundant and unusual luminosity. Over several years we have worked with some forerunners of German engineering and manufacturing to develop these techniques and produce lamps that create the latest in reflectivity and transparency.
Through the use of injection blow moulding, a melted plastic polymer moulding is injected into a massive precision-made steel tool, inflated with compressed air and then cooled.
The mirror finish of each pendant is then created by the highly technical process of vacuum metallisation. The polycarbonate shell is secreted in the interior of a metallic chamber, the air sucked out, and an immense electrical charge channelled through. With a bang and pop a thin strip of copper foil is vaporised into a fine mist of metallic particles that settles across the interior.
For Melt we have taken vacuum thin film deposition to a new level with half metallised surfaces, creating an extraordinary optical effect that reflects and enhances its environment. This half-mirrored effect often seen on a smaller scale in fashion sunglasses or gangster windscreens creates a hyper reflective surface finish when turned off but transforms into a translucent colour when switched on.