viktor reiter emulates natural sun movement in ascent/descent lamp

viktor reiter emulates natural sun movement in ascent/descent lamp
all images courtesy of viktor reiter

the ‘ascent/descent’ lamp by german designer viktor reiter aims to reintroduce the natural movement of the sun into the home. the project was influenced by the fact most people do not get enough sunlight during the winter months and combines the biological and symbolic effect of light. a system of two fresnel lenses creates different cones, depending on the position of the upper lens. if the shade enclosing the top part is at the bottom, a warm-white light illuminates only a small part of the ceiling and the room indirectly. the further the shade is moved from the base, the brighter, colder and more diffused the light becomes, which enhances melatonin suppression. referencing to the image of a camp fire, it is not only a lamp but also a piece of furniture that invites people to gather around and interact.

the warm light is focused, resembling a camp fire

as the shield moves up, the light becomes more diffused

the light becomes more and more diffused and colder

when the shield is at the top, the light is extremely diffused, illuminating the room

the shield easily slides because of the counterweight inside the pole

the bottom lens is surrounded by cooling fins

the pole is slit to allow the shield to move up and down

the lenses are made of cast resin which were cnc milled and then polished

finished lenses

sideview drawing of the lenses and the light rays

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.