reclaimed fiberglass panels reform as luminous sculpture by heilig objects

Salvaged Panels are reimagined as a light piece in a wood frame

KÖNIGSWINTER by Heilig Objects is a light sculpture constructed from reclaimed corrugated fiberglass panels sourced from an abandoned hillside hut in the forests above Königswinter, near the Siebengebirge nature reserve in western Germany. The panels, exposed to outdoor conditions for approximately fifty years, were selected for their structural integrity, translucency, and depth.

Designer Daniel Heilig spent five years identifying materials with the necessary qualities to support the intended spatial and luminous effect. Prolonged exposure to sun, frost, and rainfall resulted in amber tones, visible fiber networks, and subtle variations in density across each surface. Originally used as functional daylighting elements, the panels are now set within custom-crafted wooden frames that introduce structural clarity while preserving the material’s existing character.

KÖNIGSWINTER exhibited at Dutch Design Week 2025 | all images courtesy of Heilig Objects

KÖNIGSWINTER is defined by translucency and surface texture

All fiberglass panels originate from a single forest site in Königswinter. Their patina developed entirely through environmental exposure, producing tonal shifts and surface irregularities unique to each piece. Intervention in the material is limited to cleaning, stabilization where required, and precise integration into a wooden support frame engineered to hold the panels without altering their inherent qualities.

LED elements are positioned behind each panel, combined with light-diffusing layers that emphasize the fiberglass as material rather than as a purely optical effect. Because the number of viable reclaimed panels is finite, the series developed by Heilig Objects’ designer Daniel Heilig is produced in a strictly limited edition.

When unlit, the sculpture reads as a framed plane defined by layered translucency and surface texture. Once illuminated, the embedded fibers become more pronounced, and the panel emits a warm, amber-toned glow. A subtle halo effect forms around the perimeter of the frame, outlining the object within its surrounding space.

reclaimed corrugated fiberglass panels sourced from a hillside hut above Königswinter

A Collectible Light Object Anchored to Its Source Landscape

KÖNIGSWINTER is available in two configurations: MONO, featuring a single dimmable light source, and DUO, incorporating independently adjustable upper and lower light elements. These options allow for shifts in tonal intensity, from a subdued amber illumination to a brighter, mineral-like clarity. Both versions are offered as wall-mounted or suspended installations. Each piece includes a numbered certificate indicating its position within the limited series.

The sculpture is part of Heilig Objects’ Compagnons de Vie collection and carries the name of its site of origin, maintaining a direct reference to the location that shaped its material qualities. KÖNIGSWINTER has been presented at Dutch Design Week, Collectible Brussels, and Milan Design Week in collaboration with Soho House, within exhibitions focused on material research and contemporary collectible design.

LED elements positioned behind the panel to activate its translucency

light-diffusing layers emphasize material texture over optical illusion

salvaged panels integrated into custom-crafted wooden frames

detail: rotary control

detail: suspension

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work in progress – experimenting with light

work in progress – experimenting with the material

work in progress – milled wood

work in progress – precise work on the lighting

project info:

name: KÖNIGSWINTER

designer: Heilig Objects | @heiligobjects
lead designer: Daniel Heilig

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom