Material Research: Rícino Lamps by Estúdio RAIN.

Photo by Alex Batista.

Photo by Alex Batista.

Photo by Alex Batista.

Photo by Alex Batista.

Photo by Alex Batista.

Photo by Alex Batista.

Brazilian design studio Estúdio Rain has developed Rícino, a series of lamps that filter light with plant-based polyurethane made from castor oil. With an almost incorporeal appearance, the collection elevates the natural aesthetic qualities of the nontoxic, biodegradable material while proposing an alternative application to its originally technical use. This ongoing research explores new possibilities for materials from renewable sources with the studio’s experimental take.

The project arose from product designer Mariana Ramos and architect Ricardo Innecco’s interest in natural resins, a research process that began in 2018. In the search for a mouldable material with good resistance to temperature variations, they stumbled upon the plant based castor polymer.

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Photo by Juliana Boechat.

Photo by Alex Batista.

Photo by Juliana Boechat.

Courtesy of Estudio Rain.

Photo by Juliana Boechat.

Photo by Juliana Boechat.

Developed by the University of São Paulo, the resin is mainly used in civil construction as a waterproofing agent, or varnish. Characteristics such as its physical-chemical stability, elasticity, and ability to adhere to porous materials make this polymer very efficient in sustainably replacing petroleum derivatives. But close observation can show something beyond this function: when placed against light, the material produces an orange glow, warm and ethereal.

Estúdio Rain studied the material—its application, behaviour and limits—with the objective of enabling the casting of large portions of resin mass. The result is a series of table, wall and floor lamps composed of resin filters, which are structured by aluminium supports. The team used 3D modelling software to produce the moulds and parts and collaborated with LED systems on the linear lighting.

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Courtesy of Estudio Rain.

Courtesy of Estudio Rain.

Photo courtesy of Estudio Rain.

Photo courtesy of Estudio Rain.

Photo by Juliana Boechat.

From the shapes, textures, densities, and tones tested, the results explore the strength of the material, without giving up its delicate nature. The design of the filters takes advantage of the volume of material to create gradients of colour that vary along the body of the luminaires. In addition, the irregular line created by the puddled edges intends to capture the casting process, preserving the initial liquid aspect of the resin. This allows the final form of the piece to tell the story of its production process.

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[Images courtesy of Estúdio RAIN. Photography by Alex Batista & Juliana Boechat.]