Astep, in collaboration with renowned Italian designer Luca Nichetto, has unveiled Upglas, a pioneering lighting collection that transforms discarded Murano glass fragments into sculptural, artisan-crafted illumination. Upglas celebrates a poetic fusion of creativity, innovation, and sustainability, elevating "forgotten fragments of precious Murano glass" into unique, premium design objects.
© Astep
Inspired by Murano's centuries-old legacy as a global centre of exceptional glassmaking, Nichetto embraced a revolutionary production method. Using "mouth-blown glass remnants and a technique akin to making dough," the process begins by sorting coloured glass scraps, then grinding them into a powder-like compound. A patented, biodegradable resin is added, creating a flexible paste similar in consistency to clay.
'When I first saw this new material,' explains Nichetto, 'I got the idea of rolling and spreading it by hand, much like you would roll a flour dough to make pizza, and then shape it into a mould.' The shaped material is heated at just 400 degrees Celsius, significantly lower than traditional glasswork temperatures of around 1,200 degrees, making the process notably more energy-efficient and sustainable.
Alessandro Sarfatti, founder of Astep, highlights the eco-conscious ethos behind the project, 'We're giving discarded glass a new life. By finding a way to upcycle precious Murano glass and save it from becoming waste, this new technology aligns with our foundational commitment to continuously evolve our lighting and design acumen through inventive, forward-thinking ideas.'
The artisanal handcrafting ensures every lamp possesses "a unique chromatic pattern and tactile presence," with a smooth, delicate surface that "almost resembles honed stone, textured, marbled, alive." The resulting pieces are not only visual statements but embody a shift in design philosophy: 'It is not only what we see, but what we value, that defines beauty.'
Upglas table lamps come in two distinct shapes and four duo-toned colourways, each chosen to emphasise the material's unpredictable patterns. Options include black on white, white on light grey, green on light grey, and a warm red on light grey, offering versatile applications for private homes, boutique hotels, and restaurants alike.
Nichetto's design ethos reflects a deep connection to his Murano roots and a desire to create emotional resonance through "purity of form and refined detailing." The Upglas collection, made from surplus Murano glass sourced from vases, chandeliers, and wine glasses, exemplifies how waste can be reborn into objects of lasting beauty and craftsmanship.
More information:
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info@astep.design
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