The Seine Collection by Space Copenhagen
introduces an exciting new material expression –
patterned mouth-blown glass – to the GUBI lighting
portfolio. Inspired by the behavior of light in moving
water, Space Copenhagen has reinterpreted the form
in a contemporary context, creating a collection of
three lamps that weaves vintage references into a
distinctly modernist and understated design, evoking
the shimmer and motion of a gently flowing river.
For Space Copenhagen, this project presented an
opportunity to explore the nature of both glass and
light – and the ways in which they interact. Translating
images of water into three-dimensional form, the
studio aims to emphasize the liquidity and ambiguity
of glass – a unique material with a life all its own,
infused with an almost ethereal air of mystery.
With Seine, Space Copenhagen has embodied the
delicate balance between function and atmosphere.
The lamps illuminate spaces effectively, while also
drawing on the power of glass to soften, layer and blur
light, thus creating a dreamy and reflective ambience.
The Seine Collection comprises a dimmable table
lamp, ceiling lamp and pendant, each one comprising
a glass dome affixed by four metal arms to a base
hand-finished in antique brass – a signature of
Space Copenhagen’s designs for GUBI. The light
bulb is housed in a spherical frosted-glass diffuser
that consolidates the lamp’s light, creating a soft,
textured glow that is further enriched as it plays with
the pattern on the surface of the outer shade.
Formed in a geometric yet playful clover-like shape,
the shades are made by blowing the glass into a
mold, which shapes the glass into its distinctive
grooved pattern as it sets. As well as in
fluencing the
play of light, this gives each lamp an inviting tactility
and an expressive depth – a beauty and character
that resonates whether the light is switched on or off.
The Seine shades are available in smoke and coral
variants, which influences the behavior of the lamp’s
light. The former exposes the inner structure of the
lamp; the latter, sandblasted on the inside, has a
blurrier, clouded expression. Both create a poetic,
textured and layered light.
The unique texture of the shade has been created
digitally to achieve the cascade effect that Space
Copenhagen envisaged. This digitally sculpted
surface pattern creates a sense of fluidity in the glass,
evoking the motion and flow of a fountain or waterfall,
while the 5mm thickness of the glass means the shade
has a feeling of heaviness and quality, emphasizing
its robust profile.
The same shade is shared between the table and
ceiling lamp variants, whereas the pendant’s is cut
slightly shorter to optimize the field of light. A dimmer
is fitted to the cord of the table lamp, allowing the
user to set the lighting level to suit the task at hand or
the atmosphere they wish to create.
The kinship between Space Copenhagen and GUBI
is defined by a shared philosophy that combines
elegant simplicity with a cosmopolitan international
outlook. Prioritizing functionality and personality
in design while focusing on a few effective details
has resulted in a self-assured design universe that
emphasizes a sense of spaciousness and identity
paired with a nuanced understanding of materials
and craftsmanship – beautifully epitomized in Seine.