Promotion: design studio Mickus Projects has created a 3D-printed honeycomb-shaped bioplastic chandelier, informed by the work of Danish midcentury designer Poul Henningsen.
The translucent Hedron Pendant features a bulbous but subtly striated lampshade finished in an intricate hexagonal pattern, which wraps a stem with a delicate but illuminating LED light source.
Mickus Projects 3D-printed the chandelier from 100 per cent corn- and sugar-derived polylactic acid – a lightweight and readily available bioplastic that does not contain any fossil fuel- or petroleum-based materials.
When crafting the lampshade, the studio took cues from the work of Henningsen. The late designer is remembered for his series of glare-free shaded lamps, created to emit warm and soft light.
Ben Mickus, founder of Mickus Projects, and an architect by training, previously lived in Copenhagen, studying and drawing inspiration from Danish modern design.
When designing the Hedron Pendant, Mickus Projects sought to apply Henningsen’s trademark analysis of reflection patterns and combine this process with a renewable material and a parametric design process.
“The result is a lampshade made up of an array of tapered cell walls, precisely angled to bounce light twice from the internal LED source to the softly diffused light exiting the fixture,” explained Mickus.
“Also, the 3D-printing approach to fabrication does not involve any cutting or glueing, and does not produce any waste,” he added. “The lampshade uses the least amount of material to create a rigid yet intriguing form.”
As well as Henningsen, Mickus Projects drew inspiration from forms found in nature – in particular, the shape of honeycomb, turtle shells and multifaceted insect eyes.
The chandelier’s stem is made from standard lamp components with a custom CNC-cut bracket, which supports the shade without the need for additional fasteners or moving parts.
An additional white ceramic coating is offered as an optional extra to enhance the intensity of shadows created by the otherwise translucent lampshade.
The Hedron Pendant was designed for both indoor and outdoor installation and is suitable for a range of residential, commercial or hospitality settings.
Mickus Projects explained that the lighting comes in a series of sizes at different price points to create as wide a selection of lighting as possible.
“This ranges from an intimately scaled night light to a lobby-scaled chandelier,” said Mickus. “Biophilia meets paranormal in this carefully crafted pendant.”
For more information, visit the brand’s website here.
Partnership content
This article was written by Dezeen for Mickus Projects as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
