Lumo Bloc Lamps | Architectural Lighting for Every Environment
Get to know who Lumo Bloc is and what they're about...
Lauren created Lumo Bloc. from the love of art, light and reusing items that would otherwise have gone into the landfill. Lumo Bloc. lights are made from sustainably sourced timber & repurposed used glass blocks. They are pretty unique in their own way and set the mood in any interior with a prism effect of light being dispersed throughout the space. The lights come in a selection of colours and are wireless, giving you the flexibility to move it around and take anywhere.
A simple idea, sparked from a deep appreciation of modernist architecture and the power of light and colour to set the mood…
Read below a bit more about Lauren and Lumo Bloc.
What inspired you to start your small business?
I love glass blocks as an architectural element, and I had recently been involved in a couple of projects which included plans to demolish them. That was when I started thinking about what I could do with them, how I could repurpose them and the idea of the Lumo Bloc was born.
Lumo bloc provides me with a creative outlet; I get to work with wood + glass to create something that brings a unique design element and mood setting lighting for spaces that people live and socialize in.
How is Lumo Bloc different from other lighting products?
One point of difference is design; The re use of the modernist architectural glass blocks. These were a design product popular here in the 80’s – completely underrated in the last few decades as style and trends evolved - but now making a comeback within interior design projects.
The other key difference is my focus on sustainability, all the blocks I use are recycled; rescued from being demolished or found at salvage yards. My packaging is 100% recycled and compostable – Lumo Bloc belongs to the Eco Packaging Alliance.
Where is your business based? And where do you source your materials?
The Lumo Bloc lamps are made and packaged in my little workshop on our small farm in Waitoki, north of Auckland. Lumo Bloc operates as an e-commerce business, primarily selling through lumobloc.com and the @lumo_bloc Instagram page. They are also stocked in World Brand design stores in Auckland.
I work with sustainably forested wood to build and seal the bases, and the glass blocks come from all over NZ - I have taken a few ‘bloc procurement’ road trips to cool places across the north island. It’s awesome to chat to the people selling them, and to find out how they were used before.
How do you prioritize and manage your daily tasks?
Lumo Bloc is a project additional to my full-time job… and my farm… and my social life… so I do need to be very planned and organised with my time. To reduce wastage each lamp is made to order which often means busy weekends in my workshop; Re-using the glass blocks requires a lot of restoration (they come covered in grout) so I try to prep several at a time so orders can be filled quickly.
What are your futures goals for the business?
I’m currently working on new designs and integration into joinery which is super exciting; I’m learning new wood working techniques, more about wiring components and getting cool new tools!
Watch this space!
Find out more about Lumo Bloc Lamps here