HARRI KOSKINEN BLOCK LAMP
In Design House Stockholm’s Block Lamp. The light is enclosed by two glass blocks that feature a matt, sandblasted bulb shape. Each part of the lamp is hand cast and undergoes an extremely long cooling process to avoid cracking later on if exposed to strong temperature changes. Harri Koskinen designed the Block Lamp in 1996, and it became an immediate success. The light has been part of MoMA’s permanent collection since 2000.
A glass block with an incandescent bulb inside
Two mirrored glass forms open to allow for bulb replacement
Resembles a glowing block of ice
Textile cord in red
Light Bulb: 1 x 15W max E14 type (included)
6 ft cord
Height: 3.5"
Width: 6.3"
Depth: 4"
Bulb base: E14
Cable length: 63"
EU standard. W 16, D 10, H 9 cm
Harri Koskinen (b. 1970) is a multidisciplinary Finnish designer who has studied at the Lahti Institute of Design and at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. His international breakthrough was in 1996 with the Block lamp, which is already considered a Scandinavian design classic and has been part of the MoMA’s permanent collection since 2000.
Koskinen’s creations include a wide range of different products – furniture, tableware, glassware, lighting, watches, textiles and much more – designed for world-renowned brands. Some of his best-known products are the candleholder Lantern (1999) and the All Steel pot series (2002) designed for Iittala, Oma tableware range (2007) for Arabia and Vakio watches for Issey Miyake.
At the Milan International Furniture Fair 2009, Koskinen presented his own brand Harri Koskinen Works, under which he produces his own furniture range – such as Tablebench, Sofabed, Shelfsystem and the lamp Foldedlight. Koskinen’s design is characterized by functionality and strict aesthetic criteria – he is always looking for innovative solutions for both the consumer and the producer.
Koskinen has received prestigious awards for his works, including the Compasso d’Oro Award 2004 for his Muu chair), the Torsten and Wanja Söderberg Prize 2009 and the Wallpaper Design Award for his Sofabed in 2010.
Harri Koskinen’s frozen light bulb Block Lamp is a modern classic. Launched in 1997, it has received numerous awards and became part of MoMA’s permanent collection in 2000. Since 2014, the Block Lamp is upgraded with a LED light bulb.
The idea for the Block Lamp was born during a workshop at the University of Art and Design Helsinki. The students were given an assignment to design a gift for a wedding. ”I had this simple form that I wanted to cast in glass, and got the idea to ’wrap’ something into the glass. I first tried a couple of snaps glasses, but then the same thing happened like always when I’m in the design process – at a subconscious level I started reducing.”
Harri Koskinen is without doubt Finland’s most important designer today. Born 1970 in Karstula, Finland, Harri’s ingenious design language is deeply rooted in Finnish design tradition, striving for austerity and simplicity. Today he runs his own company Friends of Industry, with clients like Finnish Artek, Iittala and Marimekko, and international brands such as Magis, MUJI, Swarovski, and Issey Miyake. Harri was appointed design director of Iittala in 2011.
From lighting, furniture, watches, loudspeakers, textiles, packaging for Finlandia, art glass to architecture – it’s hard to find a designer with a broader range of work. But we are proud to say the Block Lamp is probably still the one piece Harri is best known for.
Harri has received numerous awards, including the Compasso d’Oro, also known as ’the Nobel Prize of the design industry’. In 2009 Harri received the Torsten and Wanja Söderberg Award, one of the world’s largest design awards. The jury noted that despite his young age, Harri is probably Finland’s most renowned designer whose design is a perfect combination of tradition and renewal.
www.harrikoskinen.com