South Drawn's latest product launch, titled Point Five, is the result of playful experimentation and exploration. Constructed from recycled glass, South Drawn were inspired to design the decorative wall sconce following the opportunity to work alongside manufactures to create a new variation of recycled glass.
Recycled glass typically takes on a very distinctive appearance - characterised by small bubbles that form and become stuck due to the trapped air. Manufacture companies usually aim to limit and remove the majority of bubbles during the firing process and as much of the air that can naturally escape, some bubbles may remain trapped.
However, when South Drawn began the material exploration and sample production process in collaboration with their manufactures, they found themselves drawn to the samples that featured bubbles. Thus began the atypical process of testing methods that could increase and influence the number and scale of bubbles captured in the glass.
The fluidity of glass leads to the inevitable unpredictability of the material, which tends to throw curveballs during the testing period. South Drawn however found this curveball - or in this case specifically, air bubbles - showcased the raw beauty of the product and its untapped potential as a recycled and sustainable material.
The air bubbles became the defining aesthetic of the Point Five decorative wall sconces, highlighting a finish and appearance that was unique from standard, off-the-shelf options. Point Five is imbued with the textural quality of the bubbles, which also result in a naturally warm and ambient light emission, suitable for its purpose of a decorative wall sconce.
Point Five are IP44 rated, meaning they are suitable for installation in wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. Luke from South Drawn says that regardless of whether the lights were clustered in groups or featured in refined, small spaces, he wanted the finer details of the lights to be a focal point in their design.
The fastener mechanic became one of the key details in the design of Point Five, with Luke stating,
"I wanted some sort of element of personality, a distinctive feature, or an interaction between the user and the glass piece when it was being installed."
The fixture also needed to be robust, so that it was capable of holding the heavy glass piece on the wall. The split pin, spring clip detail was born from experimentation, with South Drawn exploring the tensile strength of materials, and the interplay they offer through the natural tension they embody. The feature became a point of elegance and difference within the design contrasting its robust functionality with the delicate aesthetic of Point Five.
If you are interested in learning more about the process of creating Point Five sconces, browsing their product range or placing an order, you can head to the South Drawn website. Keep up to date on South Drawn's product range via their Instagram.
This showroom article is part of CO-architecture's Sustainability Month where we champion the Architects, Designers, Brands, and Stays helping to shape Australia in this space. View all of the articles that are part of Sustainability Month here.
