From Landfill to Lamps

The Story Behind the Bloc

Kia ora, I’m Lauren, and I started Lumo Bloc in 2022 from my farm shed in Waitoki.

It started with a 1980s wall about to be smashed to smithereens in a commercial redevelopment. I couldn’t let it happen. The blocks were beautiful, heavy, architectural, made in Germany in the ’70s, and they were going to be crushed. I brokered a deal with the demolition team to safely deconstruct the wall so the blocks could live to see another day.

I restored them, prototyped bases, taught myself to use a mitre saw, and settled on a design that over four years has grown into new finishes, wired versions and dozens of styles that have become fan favourites.

Demo yards and demolition teams know me well. People tip me off when a redevelopment threatens the life of a glass block. I’ve salvaged blocks from dental clinics, swimming pools, artist retreats and more 1980s bathrooms than I can count. Each one has a story. Each lamp carries it.

Every Lamp is made by hand using sustainably sourced timber and components from local suppliers. No factory. No batch production. One lamp at a time, made exactly how you want it.

✦ 3+ tonnes of construction glass repurposed so far, every order adds to that 

✦ 1,200+ Happy Lumo Lovers across Australia and Aotearoa 

✦ Proud member of the Eco Packaging Alliance, all packaging is reusable, recyclable and compostable

✦ As featured in Broadsheet Melbourne, NZ Herald’s Viva, NZ Home & Garden, Co/ Architecture and The Edit magazine