Multi-talented Nina Edwards Anker’s award-winning nea studio created stunning sconces and chandeliers made from locally sourced chlorophyta, a.k.a marine algae, a translucent and renewable material.

nea studio specializes in architecture and interiors. nea studio’s reigning philosophy is always guided by fusing eco-responsibility with beauty, both equally important. In the most recent incarnation of this philosophy, nea studio created stunning sconces and chandeliers made from locally sourced chlorophyta, a.k.a marine algae, a translucent and renewable material.

Edwards Anker comments, “In an increasingly high-tech global world, I’m inspired by local organic materials with known origins, which are familiar and connect to the natural world. The idea of the lamps originated from a Ph.D. research project about materials and light. I had been searching for biomaterials that were translucent and locally sourced to filter and soften the light of LED bulbs.”

The translucent algae diffuse the light through any room and the golden-hued brass or bronze frames reflect the LED bulbs in an even warmer light. And, as LED lighting technology improves, the color range will widen.

Although the project began in 2014, nea studio could only source the algae from Amsterdam. Now, eight years later, nea sources them from a local seafood shop in Brooklyn. “Now that the algae is so easily accessible, we continue to try out new material combinations and configurations,” says Edwards Anker.

The chandelier can include up to 100 lights. Each light is customizable and available on neastudio.com and 1stdibs.com.

nea studio
neastudio.com

Established in 2006 by Nina Edwards Anker, nea studio focuses its work in: Architecture, Interiors, Landscape Planning, Furniture and Product Design. The award-winning practice operates in an environment in which project management and implementation take place in parallel with model-making, prototyping, and experimentation with ideas, materials, and manufacturing processes. With a focus on sustainable design, the office maintains a cross-disciplinary nature where research and sharing ideas is an essential part of work philosophy. nea studio continues to design, develop and exhibit solar lights and furniture while practicing architecture and interior design at New Lab in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

All images courtesy of nea studio.