Two-Dimensional Lamps

These days it appears it could be our blinds that are keeping our lights on. Designers Yoon-Hui Kim and Eun-Kyung Kim have made a "Solar Vertical Lamp" that takes your regular vertical blind and embeds it with special mini photovoltaics and LED pixels. Meaning, during the day your blinds are soaking up sun and at night give you a new 2-D twist on lighting. Click through the jump to hear our thoughts on this interesting take on lighting as we know it...

Technology is neat huh? Our friends over at Charles and Hudson thought so too. But we're still on the fence about the structure of this new creation. Here's why:

1 - If your blinds are closed all day in order to "charge" and are closed at night (to display the "lamp") then that means they are never open. So what good is a window in the first place?

2 - Many people use the sun to help control their heating and cooling bills. Keeping your shades closed all the time rather defeats this purpose.

3 - Although we like the idea of not having to take up valuable floorspace for a table to put a lamp on, it doesn't seem that cozy to curl up with a good book, cup of hot chocolate and your blinds. Obviously this isn't their intent either, they just don't feel like they would give off a warm tone that says, "I'm home."

What are your thoughts on this new take on traditional 3 dimensional lighting? Let us know below!

(Photos via Charles and Hudson)

Comments (5)

I find this so cliche - Why does the image have to be shaped like a lamp at all?

Why not simply alternating bands of lit and unlit blinds? Ribbons, dots or swirls?

posted by bepsf on December 1st 2008 at 1:30pm
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Excellent thought bepsf! That would be far more attractive.

posted by sarahrae on December 1st 2008 at 1:42pm
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I completely agree with bepsf. I don't see these blinds as a solution to be more efficient or anything - strictly a piece of unique decor. It would be very cool to see other designs, different than a lamp.

I think it's an interesting concept, but I won't be putting these in my home anytime soon.

posted by TyceH on December 1st 2008 at 1:47pm
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Aside from the issue of not liking vertical blinds, this also means that my furniture is stuck in very specific locations i.e. around the placement of the "light"

Interesting potential but questionable execution.

posted by slidingalbion on December 1st 2008 at 3:50pm
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I never open my shades because I need privacy and to protect my textiles from fading.

I have solar shades silk screened to make them look like light is passing through Mughal stonework. If I could get this embedded, I'd have that look - and a free solar light source - 24/7.

So... I agree - I don't love the execution - let's start with the VERTICAL BLINDS part - but it could evolve in interesting ways.

posted by Taureg on December 1st 2008 at 9:26pm
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