New Zeland-based David Trubridge’s “Icarus” installation at Milan Design Week puts a well-known story into modern context. This year, Trubridge addressed the environmental impact of traveling to Milan by offsetting his carbon footprint and showcasing a series of energy-efficient “flying” lamps capable of collapsing small enough to fit inside his luggage. The collection is designed to free our spirits and inspire reflection about spreading our wings the right way: the eco-friendly way.

David Trubridge has been working for years now on creating products with a ecological perspective, and this year he went even further with his exhibition at Superstudio Piu. All the pieces shown were carried as luggage on his long trip to Milan; he bought carbon credits for his flight, and used LED or CFL bulbs that all-together consume less than 5 kilowatts per day.
Trubridge’s “Icarus” installation included three “wing” lamps made of 1mm hand-sanded polycarbonate that spiral around a sun represented by a 1.35m “Sola” lamp made from a 2mm hoop pine plywood with acrylic paint on the inside. His use of light weight, flat-packable materials saves on shipping weight and material use.
Photos copyright Inhabitat
Trubridge’s “Coral” lamps are made from bamboo plywood with acrylic paint and are sold as a kit that can be constructed on site. Around 60 flat-packed Coral lamps fit in the space of an assembled one!

The Luvial table lamp is a collaboration between sculptor Ben Pearce who designed the solid American Ash base and David Trubridge who did the Bamboo Plywood shade.
+ Milan Design Week
Photos copyright Inhabitat