Helle Mardahl designs Candy Collection lamps based on childhood memories of sweet shops

These colourful blown-glass lamps were imagined by Danish designer Helle Mardahl as giant pieces of candy.

Launched at 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen, the Candy Collection lights are based on Mardahl‘s memories of the “rich and playful” sweet shops she visited as a child and dreamed of one day owning herself.

Each piece is designed to recall the experience that came with visiting the old confectionary stores, specifically “the colours, the textures, the desire, and the childlike anticipation”.

“It has always been a dream of mine to create my own sweetshop, an exclusive and sophisticated one,” said the Copenhagen-based designer.

“My Candy Collection is filled with possibilities engaging all senses,” she added. “I wish for a sight to behold and cherish, where every piece is unique and one-off.”

The collection features designs in a variety of shapes and sizes, based on the different sweets that might be found in a confectioner’s glass containers, known as bonbonnières.

Mardahl hand blows each one and, rather than creating perfect spheres and ovoids, she allows them to take on slight imperfections so that each one is unique.

This results in natural, blob-like forms in vibrant shades of orange, blue, pink and pale yellow, reminiscent of “delicate and delicious” jelly-beans and bonbons.

When illuminated, they give off a soft glow.

The Candy Collection contains table lamps and hanging pendants, featuring brass fittings and brown fabric cables.

It was on show as part of the DAWN exhibition at Nomad Workspace, as part of 3 Days of Design, which ran from 24 to 26 May 2018. Nomad Workspace also hosted an installation by designer Natalia Sanchéz, which saw the interior restyled with Muuto products.

The city-wide exhibition also saw various designers announce fresh reissues of midcentury furniture pieces from the Danish archives, including designs by Hans J Wegner and Børge Mogensen.

Read more

• Lighting
• Design