a rich history – Melbourne

Victorian Bluestone has a rich history, deeply embedded in the architecture and streets of Melbourne. Despite the understated beauty of this building material, there is a larger issue emerging – the vast amounts of unused waste material generated from its quarrying.
In collaboration with Ash Allen, James Walsh Studio set about exploring the possibility of up-cycling this waste material. During a four-month investigation, they discovered that the Bluestone powder melts in a kiln at ~1250 deg C. As it cools, it coalesces into a strong solid form, actually denser and more impervious than the original stone. During the melt, a small concave meniscus forms on the outer edge of the puddle. To highlight this feature and to create an interesting shadow pattern, Walsh and Allen decided to make a wall sconce.
The mirrored bulb, positioned centrally, not only highlights this outer section, but also brings attention to the warm, textured surface of the piece. I recently discovered this light fitting at VIVID and it’s even better in the flesh!
Dimensions: 390mm diameter, 75mm deep Weight: 2.5kg