A hanging lamp made of sugar cane and hemp for sustainable lighting of office spaces – Yanko Design

In today’s world, finding sustainable solutions is more important than ever. Sometimes the best innovations come from rethinking old ideas. Collaboration is key, combining knowledge and resources to create products that meet today’s challenges. That’s exactly what Norwegian studio Snøhetta and lighting brand Ateljé Lyktan have done with their new Superdupertube office lamp, setting a new standard for sustainable lighting.

Designers: Snøhetta and Ateljé Lyktan

This partnership is not entirely new. It began with The 7th Room, a stunning cabin in the treetops of northern Sweden, where Snøhetta and Ateljé Lyktan first collaborated to develop unique lighting solutions. The Superdupertube uses materials that reflect Snøhetta’s commitment to regenerative design. The project began years ago with a team of architects and designers working with Ateljé Lyktan to find locally sourced materials with a lower environmental impact. Hemp was chosen for its strong fibers and low environmental impact, reducing CO2 emissions by over 50% compared to traditional aluminum.

Working with suppliers Bergman’s and Trifilon, Snøhetta and Ateljé Lyktan researched sustainable materials. After testing with pine cones and coffee grounds, they discovered hemp fiber. Superdupertube is the first project to use hemp material in an extrusion process. Hemp provided the necessary strength and, when mixed with sugar cane starch, it met the functional requirements while staying true to the commitment to sustainability. Hemp grows in abundance and does not put a strain on the soil.

Superdupertube is designed as a versatile office lamp, is available in four lengths and features a diagonal slat to reduce glare.

Superdupertube is a modern interpretation of Ateljé Lyktan’s Supertube, an extruded aluminum office lamp from the 1970s. The simple design of the original Supertube caught Snøhetta’s attention and sparked the intention to adapt it to today’s environmental demands. After experimenting with different materials, they decided on a composite of Dutch hemp and PLA bioplastic derived from sugar cane. This new material, which is free of fossil fuels, is sustainable and robust, making it a perfect alternative to aluminum.

The pendant lamp is a blend of craftsmanship and environmental awareness. Its main body is made by extrusion, with injection-molded slats and side covers giving it an organic look. Even the electrical cables are wrapped in linen fabric, giving a natural feel. The lamp can be composted or recycled into pellets for future lamps, minimizing waste and maximizing resource efficiency.

The natural color of the hemp makes each lamp unique, with variations in color and light temperature. The LED strips emit a warm tone through the material, available in two color temperatures: 4000K (adjusted to 3800K ambient light) and 3000K (adjusted to 2800K ambient light). By using PLA material made from sugar cane and reinforced with hemp fibers, the lamp’s environmental footprint is significantly reduced.

Superdupertube uses a variety of production techniques, including injection-molded slats and side covers. Dimmable LED strips encased in twisted slats provide visual appeal and practical lighting, making them ideal for modern offices. Available in four lengths, each lamp features an organic beige tone with natural patterns from the hemp composite, giving each piece individuality.

Since a lamp’s environmental impact occurs mainly during use, Snøhetta and Ateljé Lyktan have focused on efficiency and integrated smart lighting systems to reduce energy consumption and extend the lamp’s lifespan. The design allows for easy assembly and disassembly, with components sliding into place without glue and with just a few screws, making it easy to replace parts and update lighting technology.