Why use the grid to light up the night when you can use the power of the sun? Spotted at Wanted Design during NYCxDesign week in New York City, Casagami is a collection of miniature paperboard houses fitted with small solar-powered LED modules. The adorable flat-packed abodes can be folded together like origami and used as nightlights, decor or as an educational tool.
Designed and made in France by Litogami out of recycled or PEFC/FSC papers, Casagami come in many different styles – from a New York-style Brownstone designed for the MoMA store to a typical Parisian residence. But Litogami founder Marc Lebas told us that he hopes people will take advantage of the designs’ blank spaces to put their own unique spins on each Casagami.
Casagami come flat-packed and are very lightweight, so they can be mailed easily. Assembling the pre-cut and pre-folded houses is very simple and is an educational process that can teach children about alternative energy and the importance of saving energy. Lebas says that exposing the 22x 37mm solar panel included inside each Casagami for five hours can allow the LED light to shine for five hours.
Litogami also makes Autogami, a mini car toy that runs on solar power.
In addition to its sustainable message, Casagami is a vehicle for social justice as well. Litogami employs people with special needs to make Casagami through a workshop for the handicapped in the suburbs of Paris.
Casagami start at $8.12 and can be purchased at Litogami’s Etsy shop.
