off duty no more recycled taxi light lamps

’90’s NYC taxi lamp’

having always had an interest in the universality of signage and symbols, guilhem de castelbajac’s ‘off duty no more‘ project celebrates the illumination of the taxi light, by repurposing the iconic utilitarian design into lamps – table or pendent – for interior use. an important part of the archaeology of our cities which is slowly being rendered obsolete, the french creative takes these automobile toppers and outfits them with LEDs which consist of eight different illumination options. a metal base, meant to mimic the hood of a car, houses the hardware and switch to operate the object. each one is unique from the next, and is numbered as limited editions.

‘off duty no more’ was on show at wanteddesign during NY design week 2012.

detail

’90s NYC taxi lamp’ on show at wanteddesign during NY design week image © designboom

‘off duty no more’ installation view at wanteddesign image © designboom

‘paris taxi lamp’ functions as a desktop light image © designboom

‘paris taxi lamp’

the lights are attached to a metal base which is meant to mimic the hood of a car, housing the hardware and switches to operate them

guilhem de castelbajac of ‘off duty no more’ portrait © designboom

demonstration of the ‘paris taxi lamp’

demonstration of the ’90s NYC taxi lamp’