Minimal surfaces locally minimise their area to a given constraint. Designed 2011 / Exhibitions DMY Berlin 2011, blickfang Vienna 2011, Stockholm Furniture Fair Greenhouse 2013 and Biennale Internationale Design Saint-Étienne Artifact 2013
Sizes l 234-330 mm, w 132-213 mm, h 51-68 mm / 4 CITIZEN COB-LEDs, 2500-4500 K, 980-1960 lm, 12-24 W, dimmable / White Montblanc bisque porcelain, aluminium or brass mesh, Nd-magnet / Light customisable by selection of raindrop, size (require a plaster mould) and mesh
The minimal surface lights’ reflectors evolve by simulating the surface tension of raindrops as they wet a plane. Virtual drop shapes are 3D printed for plaster moulds and manufactured as single or dual-layer (white/coloured) bisque porcelain thin-shells. Their ultra-matte surfaces are an ideal reflector of glare-free light from invisibly fitted high-performance LEDs. A perforated sheet metal mesh - flush with the reflector - serves as LED mount, heat sink, hanging and levelling device for the asymmetric reflectors, all rolled into one.
Structural engineers and architects like Felix Candela, Hans Isler or Frei Otto studied minimal surfaces, implementing them as thin-shell or tent-like roofing structures.
The porcelain items were produced in collaboration with Uta Koloczek, the sheet metal grille pattern was developed in collaboration with Michal Piasecki.
