Most lamps hide the bulb. This one builds a pedestal for it.
Cofit-20 is a concrete lamp that turns lighting design inside out. Instead of a shade that covers the bulb, Belgian studio Atelier Haute Cuisine made a solid brick to display it, cast from a concrete mix that contains coal and coal waste from the area where the designers grew up. The result is part table lamp, part sculpture and part portrait of a place.
Below, we look at the studio behind it, the idea and materials of Cofit-20, and its debut at London Design Festival. You will also find more concrete lamps and bare-bulb lighting, plus tips on styling a concrete lamp at home.
Who is Atelier Haute Cuisine?
Founded in 2009, Atelier Haute Cuisine is a Belgian design collective made up of makers Bernd Tyskens and Benny Conings. Despite the name, they do not cook. Instead, they work like cooks, mixing different ingredients to create a greater whole. Their output ranges from handmade objects and light sculptures to furniture, site-specific installations and concepts.
Their approach fits a wider Belgian tradition of experimental, material-led design. For more on that scene, read our guide to Belgian design with curator Elien Haentjens.
Cofit-20: a concrete lamp that puts the bulb on display
For Cofit-20, the studio wanted to make the light bulb part of the design rather than something to conceal. The base is a brick with two different imprints of a bulb and socket. Depending on how you place it (horizontal or vertical, to the left or to the right) and which imprint holds the bulb, the lamp takes on a different form. In other words, the owner decides how the piece looks.
Cofit-20 Table Lamp In Coal Concrete by Atelier Haute Cuisine
Cofit-20 is a limited edition of 100 pieces. Its dark, speckled surface comes from pieces of coal and coal waste mixed into the concrete, so each brick is slightly different. Because the bare bulb is part of the composition, it suits a shelf, desk or bedside table where it can be seen up close. Browse more table lamps.
€380 incl. tax
Coal, concrete and a sense of place
The material is what makes Cofit-20 personal. Bernd Tyskens and Benny Conings collected pieces of coal and coal waste in the area where they grew up and mixed them into the concrete. As a result, every lamp carries a fragment of that landscape, wherever it ends up.
Using local waste also gives the piece a quiet sustainability story. Rather than sourcing new aggregate, the studio reused a by-product with a strong regional history. For more designers working this way, see our feature on upcycled furniture.
Cofit-20 at London Design Festival
Cofit-20 was part of “Ceci N’est Pas…,” a Belgian collection curated by Elien Haentjens for ADORNO’s Virtual Design Destination at London Design Festival in September 2020. Read more about Belgium at Virtual Design Destination 2020.
More concrete lamps and bare-bulb lighting
If Cofit-20 appeals, these pieces share its raw materials or its focus on the bulb itself. For a wider selection, browse our guide to brutalist lamps in concrete, steel and stone.
Essenz Floor Lamp in Concrete and Stainless Steel by case studios
Handmade in Germany, Essenz embeds brushed stainless steel fragments in a raw concrete base, so the light reflects and refracts rather than shining in one direction. Three-way dimmable LED strips let it shift from soft glow to sculptural accent. Consequently, it works as both a concrete floor lamp and a standing sculpture. See more floor lamps.
By case studios
€1.610 incl. tax
Sculptural Table Lamp in Stainless Steel and Concrete by case studios
The table-size companion to Essenz sets three brushed stainless steel fragments into a thick concrete base with deconstructed edges. Each piece is slightly different in shape, and the light source is exchangeable. It comes with a 79-inch (200 cm) cable and switch. Like Cofit-20, it shows how concrete can feel both raw and refined. See more minimalist lamps.
By case studios
€820 incl. tax
“Spare” Table Lamp in Ultraclear Glass and Metal by JAN PAUL
Spare takes Cofit-20’s idea one step further: the bulbs are the whole lamp. Twenty-six clear bulbs are fixed together like bubbles; one burns while the rest act as a shade, and when it fails, you move the holder to the next. Notably, it is part of the permanent collection of Design Museum Gent in Belgium. See more contemporary lamps.
By JAN PAUL
€220 incl. tax
How to style a concrete lamp
Balance it with warm materials
Concrete reads as cool and industrial. Place a concrete lamp on a wooden desk, a linen-covered bedside table or next to leather and wool, and the contrast makes both materials look richer.
Choose the bulb carefully
When the bulb is visible, it becomes part of the design. Choose a warm white LED, around 2200 to 2700 kelvin, with a clear or filament glass, so the light feels soft rather than harsh.
Give it room to be seen
Sculptural lamps work best with space around them. Keep the surrounding surface uncluttered so the form, the texture and the play of light remain the focus.
Frequently asked questions
What is a concrete lamp?
A concrete lamp uses concrete for its base, body or shade. Concrete gives the lamp weight, stability and a raw, sculptural texture.
What is Cofit-20 made of?
Cofit-20 is made from a concrete mixture containing pieces of coal and coal waste collected in the area where the designers of Atelier Haute Cuisine grew up.
Who designed Cofit-20?
Cofit-20 was designed by Atelier Haute Cuisine, a Belgian collective founded in 2009 by Bernd Tyskens and Benny Conings.
Are concrete lamps heavy?
Generally, yes. Their weight makes them very stable, but check the product dimensions and weight before placing one on a narrow or delicate surface.
How do you clean a concrete lamp?
Unplug it and dust it with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid water and harsh cleaners, which can stain or damage unsealed concrete.
Why Cofit-20 still stands out
Cofit-20 shows that a lamp does not need a shade to be designed. By turning the bulb into the subject and giving local coal waste a second life, Atelier Haute Cuisine created a small concrete lamp with a big idea, one that changes every time you move it.
