diefabrik: pothole lamp at DMY berlin 2011

‘pothole lamp’ by diefabrik image courtesy of diefabrik

at this year’s DMY berlin, german design collective diefabrik presented their ‘schlaglochlampe’ or ‘pothole lamp.’ with casts of potholes as their shades, this trio of lamps preserves the shape and history of these typically overlooked forms. produced in small batches, the lamps are linked to the originating road marks by their names, which are the addresses where each pothole can be found.

the studio elaborates: ‘for centuries potholes have been an omnipresent part of our streets. they form constantly and are sealed again only to reappear a few meters away. potholes are the result of both weather conditions and traffic. they consume tons of money in repair costs each year and are an annoyance to everyone. but potholes are not only holes in the street, they are a by-product of a society, depicting the wear and tear of everyday life, which makes them an interesting foundation for a product.’

a pothole cast in progress in leipzig, germany image courtesy of diefabrik

selected potholes are filled with gypsum to create a mold. using the technique of thermoforming, the casts are then used to fabricate lamps with 100% biodegradable thermoplastics.

image courtesy of diefabrik

wildentensteig 2, 04249 leipzig image courtesy of diefabrik

image courtesy of diefabrik

on display at DMY berlin 2011 image © designboom

wigandstrasse 48, 04229 leipzig image © designboom

image © designboom