What do you do with a bunch of logs with cracks on them? Perhaps your first instinct would be to use them for your fireplace or for your next campfire. Well, Tasmania-based designer Duncan Meerding has come up with a rather brilliant use for these unwanted wood chunks. Instead of simply burning them, he turns them into incredible log lamps.
There has been a constant call for sustainability in almost every industry nowadays. And the field of design is no exception. In fact, the use of repurposed and reclaimed materials is among the latest trends in design. Meerding is one of the many artists who take sustainability and care for the environment into consideration in his works.
His Cracked Log Light Series features a variety of light fixtures made of salvaged wood. Each piece comes with cracks on the side, given the nature of the material. Light seeps through these cracks, signifying the “fiery fate” that the timber would have otherwise been subjected to.
The Cracked Log Lamp comes with a black cord with an inline switch, an E27 light fixture and a plug. The Cracked Log Pendant Light comes with a 2-meter cord, a black ceiling rose and an E27 light fixture as well. Lastly, the Stump includes a 12-volt LED driver, a custom LED light fixture and a keyhole bracket.
Among the three styles, only the Stump is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. As such, it’s the only style with a battery-operated variant which can last up to 8 hours. Depending on your preference and need, you can use the Stump as either a table or a stool.
The sizes of these log lamps may range from 180mm to 300mm in width and 230mm to 400mm in height, depending on style. However, do note that the pieces with similar styles may have different sizes due to the nature of the material.
Being legally blind, Meerding has embraced this limitation and integrated it into his creations.
“The relationship between light and shadow and light dispersion are also integral to my design process. Being legally blind with less than 5% of my sight remaining, the vision of light emanating from the peripheries of the different objects, reflect the alternative sensory world within which I design.”
In addition to light fixtures, Duncan Meerding’s design studio also offers tables, tea boxes and knife blocks. All these are made either of salvaged wood or fast-growing robust timer varieties. Feel free to check out their website to see their complete list of products.