Sabine Marcelis designs “milky” three-metre-tall lava lamp

Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis always wanted to create a giant lava lamp, and has achieved that dream with Column, a cylindrical and oversized version of lighting brand Mathmos’s iconic 1960s design.

Released today, Column is the first jumbo lava lamp designed for British brand Mathmos, which has produced the recognisable lighting characterised by rising and sinking “lava” since Edward Craven Walker invented it in 1963.

Marcelis created the lamp with a slender aluminium body that stretches 2.96 metres tall, anchored by a round base and sprayed with a matte white paint finish.

The centre of the lamp is fitted with a frosted borosilicate glass vessel, which houses the gloopy “lava” available in three pale colourways – bubblegum pink, orangey peach and light green honeydew.

“What makes the lamp different is the diffused way of seeing the lava,” said Marcelis, who is known for her sculptural and often translucent works finished in glass, resin and natural stone.

“It gives a soft glow. And the lava is milky instead of a sharp, clear colour,” she told Dezeen. “It brings the whole object more into my realm.”

Marcelis explained that she once designed a space filled with lava columns, which gave her the idea to create an oversized lamp that is “all-encompassing”.

“At the time, this wasn’t possible as it’s actually a very delicate balance to make lava lamps work,” she reflected.

“They need to heat up just right and cool down just right so that lava can fall again after rising,” continued the designer, who worked with Mathmos to complete the final design.

Marcelis has a floor-to-ceiling Column lamp in her own home, describing the object as both functional lighting and a decorative sculpture.

“I always wanted to design a giant lava lamp,” she said. “That dream is now becoming reality.”

Officially called Astro, the lava lamp is enshrined in pop culture history.

Marcelis previously joined forces with designers Camille Walala and Job Smeets, pop band Duran Duran and photographer Rankin to create limited editions of Astro to mark its 60th anniversary.

The Rotterdam-based designer recently planted a trio of mirrored and resin installations at Apple Park in California, all informed by the latest iPhones.

The photography is by Titia Hahne.

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