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Audrey Boutique interior

Eight interiors illuminated by sculptural aesthetic lamps

For our latest lookbook, we've collected eight interiors enhanced by aesthetic lamps including a 19th-century house in Stockholm and a retro-futuristic clothing store in Hangzhou.

There is a growing trend for unusually sculptural and innovative lighting designs that don't just light up an interior but also function as a piece of art.

The examples below show characterful lamps used in commercial, hospitality and cultural interiors. But the same principle can also be applied to residential interiors for a similarly striking effect.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring inviting breakfast nooks, homes with central courtyards and tranquil interiors with oversized windows.


Koen Van Guijze, Circuit. Photo by Franziska Krieck
Photo by Franziska Krieck

Filips Van Marnix House, Belgium, by Koen Van Guijze

Belgian designer Koen Van Guijze showcased his characterful lighting designs inside the centuries-old Filips Van Marnix house in Antwerp.

The exhibition included his ribbon-like Circuit lamp, above, which was on show in the main staircase where its modern, graphic shape contrasted against a marble statue.

Find out more about Filips Van Marnix house ›


Pink pyramidic lamp
Photo by Shao Feng

Audrey boutique, China, by Liang Architecture Studio

The Audrey boutique in Hangzhou, China, has an industrial interior made from steel and micro cement. But large pyramidal lights add a striking futuristic touch to the austere surroundings.

The lighting fixtures, which appear to pierce through the ceiling, are made from acrylic and change their colours regularly to light up the space, which Liang Architecture Studio designed to have a retro-futuristic feel.

Find out more about Audrey boutique ›


Swirly apricot Soft Serve lamp
Photo by Alexandra Svärdh and Bosse Lind

Soft Serve lamp, Sweden, by Crème Atelier

Stockholm design studio Crème Atelier created its Soft Serve lamp, which was shortlisted in the lighting design category of the Dezeen Awards last year, to resemble "swirly ice cream".

"We were very intrigued by the creamy organic shapes of meringue and soft serve ice cream," co-founder Jacqueline Kessidis told Dezeen.

The 3D-printed lamp comes in a variety of sorbet colours and is made from a bioplastic made from recycled food packaging.

Find out more about the Soft Serve lamp ›


Interior view of Wine and Eggs with store counter
Photo by Laure Joliet

Wine and Eggs, US, by Adi Goodrich

Located in the Atwater Village neighbourhood of Los Angeles, the Wine and Eggs grocery has an interior that nods to Parisian cafes and Italian tobacconists and features multiple fun and colourful details, such as a blue-and-green checkerboard floor.

Custom-made lamps by designer Adi Goodrich reference the name of the store.

"At the beginning of the project I knew I wanted the lights to look like a sunny-side-up egg," Goodrich told Dezeen. "After designing some wiggly shapes, I landed at the stacked circle."

Find out more about Wine and Eggs ›


Interiors of Baker's House installation designed by Fårg & Blanche

Bakers House, Sweden, by Färg & Blanche

A residence built in 1889, which belongs to the family of one of the Färg & Blanche founders, formed the background for this exhibition by the Swedish studio.

Among the pieces showcased were bulbous lights that appear to be bound in brass strips. These were scattered over the home's patterned parquet floors, creating a well-lit path up a winding staircase.

Find out more about Bakers House ›


Café Mollien at the Louvre by Mathieu Lehanneur

Cafe Mollien, France, by Mathieu Lehanneur

The cafe of the Louvre museum in Paris was given a renovation by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, who decorated the interior with pink acrylic light fixtures.

The translucent lights create a modern contrast to the museum's historic halls and were designed by Lehanneur as "three large pale-pink eggs" floating in space.

Find out more about Cafe Mollien ›


The Sensory Society by Helle Mardahl

The Sensory Society, Denmark, by Helle Mardahl

Bulbous glassware defines the work of Helle Mardahl, who started her career creating pastel-coloured glass objects.

Since then, the Danish designer has expanded into lighting design, creating candy-like aesthetic lamps that were first showcased during design festival 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen, where they lit up a warm red hallway.

Find out more about The Sensory Society ›


Knuckle light

Knuckle light, Sweden, by David Taylor

Made by forcibly bending aluminium tubing, designer David Taylor's Knuckle light has an industrial frame that is juxtaposed with oversized round white lightbulbs.

"No two bends in the Knuckle series are alike," the designer said. "Coercing metal into a form that it is specifically designed to resist is challenging at best."

Find out more about Knuckle light ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring inviting breakfast nooks, homes with central courtyards and tranquil interiors with oversized windows.