Every Lumo Bloc lamp starts with a piece of glass that was never meant to become a lamp. It was cast in Germany in the 1970s and 80s, installed in a New Zealand bathroom or commercial building, and eventually scheduled for demolition. That is where we come in.
Where the glass comes from
Vintage glass blocks were a staple of mid-century architecture across New Zealand, used in bathrooms, commercial entries, and stairwells for their ability to let light through while maintaining privacy. As buildings are renovated or demolished, these blocks are typically sent to landfill. We source them before that happens.
So far, over 3 tonnes of glass has been diverted from landfill through Lumo Bloc lamps. Each piece has a provenance: your lamp might contain glass rescued from a 1960s bathroom in Waitakere, or a commercial building in central Auckland. Read more about reclaimed glass lighting and why it matters.
The making process
Once the glass arrives, each block is cleaned, inspected, and matched with a handcrafted wooden base made in our New Zealand workshop. The base houses a dimmable COB LED light bar, chosen for its even, warm output and long rated life of 50,000 hours.
Every lamp is made to order. We do not hold stock. When you place an order, your specific lamp is built for your space, which means no overproduction and no waste. Read more about why your next lamp should be made from reclaimed materials.
The result
A lamp that is genuinely one of a kind. The rippled surface of a wave-pattern glass block catches light differently at every angle. Five interchangeable colour lenses let you shift the mood from warm amber to cool blue to deep red. It is lighting that has a story, and that story is one of rescue, craft, and intention. Read more about what a glass block lamp actually is or why the interchangeable lenses matter.