Melina is a smaller version of Mela, and it was initially developed as a site specific lighting project, 3.8 metres length chandelier to be installed in the lift hall of a grade II listed office building, 2 Bessborough Street, London, for where we were also commissioned to design and make a set of furniture in its entrance lounge.
Working with Hand & Eye, Melina is now available as cluster pendant lighting, and also as wall mount version.
Chandelier commissioned by Crown Estate for 2 Bessborough Street site.
Melina is designed in 2021, and produced and available to order by Hand & Eye
Design development for chandelier
When we were approached to design a feature lighting for the office building above Pimlico station, we quickly thought glass light would be a natural fit to the designated space, the Art Deco inspired, oak panelled lift hall, design by Sir William Whitfield and built in 1980s. Also the light though glass could be a way to soften the masculine entrance and give fluidity into a rather rigid space. We also introduced etched clear glass instead of opal (white) glass for their semi transparent light diffusion to give more complex expression of light and physical presence.
We had just recently completed Mela for Hand & Eye, glass globe light with a dimple at the centre that subtly punctures light, and we soon decided to develop this simple shape further into something that works for this hall.
Glass shade was skilfully mould blown, a technique of mouth blowing glass into mould, by a glass workshop in Poland, metal fitting was invest cast silicon bronze in Leicester, UK, and internal fixing was 3D printed in nylon in the UK.