Light as Poetry: Inside Studio SPHAER’s Luminous World

In a creative atelier nestled among Vienna’s historic vineyards, where Beethoven once walked and composed, Leni Piëch crafts a new narrative in contemporary lighting and design. As the founder of Studio SPHAER, she creates bespoke, limited-edition pieces that redefine our relationship with light, merging artistry and functionality. The studio acts as a collaborative environment where Piëch explores the intersections of various creative worlds, producing objects with skilled craftsmen that transcend traditional design boundaries.

Origins and Philosophy

The studio’s name, SPHAER, comes from the German “Atmosphäre,” encapsulating both the studio’s identity and its mission. Piëch explains, “Objects become part of a broader narrative, they tell their own stories and listen to the stories we tell. They have their own ‘lives.’” This philosophy reflects her belief that designed objects are not only functional but active participants in our daily lives, creating meaningful connections between space, light, and human experience.

For Piëch, Studio SPHAER is a realization of a long-held dream—a collaborative atelier where diverse ideas converge, rooted in her conviction that shared creativity has transformative power. To her, collaboration is more than the act of creating together; it’s a process that merges distinct experiences and cultural insights, infusing projects with a romantic, philosophical exchange. This exchange invigorates, inspires, and enables problem-solving that allows ideas to flourish organically.

Piëch’s journey into design began in childhood when simple tools like paper, scissors, and pencils opened a world of exploration. She recalls, “I have always been fascinated by being able to create something… Creating something that one can experience—touch, see, and feel, an object that tells their own story, either from how it was made, or from which materials it has been made (materials history) is the most enriching thing for me.” At Studio SPHAER, each piece becomes a medium for human interaction, crafted to foster connections and enhance the spaces they inhabit.

The Significance of Material Memory

Studio SPHAER’s approach to materials reveals a profound respect for traditional craftsmanship. Every piece reflects centuries of human interaction with glass and ceramic, materials carefully sourced and shaped by skilled artisans in Turkey. Piëch refers to this as “material memory”—the inherent knowledge and skills passed down through generations of craftspeople.

This commitment to traditional methods presents unique challenges. The production process for each piece spans months, requiring patience, discipline, and precision. Extensive drying times and precise temperature control for glasswork ensure that every object retains its handcrafted authenticity. Subtle variations from piece to piece celebrate the beauty of the human touch, highlighting the artisanal quality that machine production can never replicate.

Collections Rooted in Mythological Foundations 

The studio’s inaugural creations, developed in collaboration with lighting designer Bade Erol, embody their shared vision. The collections that emerged, PYTHIA and CALLIOPE, began with a simple yet profound idea: “Light is our favorite color.” These collections, named after figures from Greek mythology, feature six pendant lamps—Bia, Theia, Eirene, Aglaea, Ourania, and Hecate. Crafted from refined glass and ceramics, they embody elegance and sophistication.

Piëch recalls how these names reflect the symbolic weight and meaning embedded in each piece: “We were thinking of personas that should have this feminine power… These tales are timeless.” PYTHIA draws inspiration from the Oracle of Delphi, with illuminated spheres that cast soft, oracle-like projections. CALLIOPE, a tribute to the muse of epic poetry, offers a contrasting experience, with pendant lamps that reveal shifting perspectives as viewers move around them. The mythological names shape the design approach, imbuing each piece with qualities of prophecy, poetry, and divine inspiration.

Each creation in these collections serves as a statement piece, with a concealed light source that diffuses a gentle, ambient glow. This feature fosters a comforting and enriching atmosphere—a quality Piëch considers essential for elevating a space’s emotional ambiance. She states, “Design is not about the creators, the designers, but it is about the various interactions that designed objects eventually have, with different individuals—it is about what others think and feel, what objects that live with us make us feel.” These objects are not passive; they possess their own personas, inspired by Piëch’s concept of “feminist worlding,” which acknowledges objects as entities that coexist within a space, telling their own stories and adding depth to their environments.

Technical Innovation Through Artistry

Studio SPHAER’s “concealed light source” technique is a breakthrough rooted in artistic vision. Standard LED lighting often produces harsh, direct light, but SPHAER reimagines this through careful material selection and innovative forms. “The idea of the ‘concealed light source’ stemmed from the desire to create a soft, ambient glow rather than harsh, direct lighting,” Piëch explains. “We wanted to create something that reminds individuals of beautiful moments—such as the sunset, or the moon, romantic light settings that become an experience.”

This technical achievement required extensive experimentation with opaque glass, enabling the studio to diffuse light without sacrificing aesthetic integrity. The transformation of these pieces from their dormant to illuminated states reflects Studio SPHAER’s meticulous attention to detail, achieving a design language that harmonizes technical demands with artistic expression.

Feminist Worlding Through Design

For Leni Piëch, “feminist worlding” is a guiding philosophy that rethinks traditional design hierarchies, particularly those that place human needs above ecological impact. Her approach advocates for inclusivity, recognizing the interconnectedness of people, nature, and objects. This perspective nurtures a design ethos that respects both cultural heritage and environmental sustainability.

This worldview manifests in the studio’s inclusive ethos and guides their material choices, which prioritize historical significance and environmental responsibility. SPHAER collaborates with artisans who preserve ancient crafts, ensuring these skills endure for future generations. Each object is conceived with its full lifecycle in mind—from creation through daily use to eventual recycling, embracing a sustainable approach to design that respects both the past and the future.

The studio’s setting near the Viennese vineyards adds an element of timeless inspiration. These vineyards, historically frequented by creative minds like Beethoven, imbue the design process with a sense of continuity and artistic heritage. “The studio’s location near the Viennese vineyards provides this wonderful dreamy atmosphere,” Piëch remarks. “Romantic… and also Beethoven used to live around this area.” The natural rhythm of the vineyard’s seasons influences the studio’s approach to light, shadow, color, and form, subtly informing each piece with a sense of place and history.

Collaborative Spirit

The partnership between Piëch and Erol highlights the power of creative synergy. Erol’s expertise in lighting design and manufacturing harmonizes with Piëch’s mastery of glass and ceramic, bringing a fresh perspective to their work. Their shared commitment to using premium, sustainable materials results in pieces that balance durability with delicate craftsmanship. The urgency of their collaboration—completed while Piëch was expecting her daughter—instilled a disciplined structure to their process, allowing them to meet their ambitious goals. “The warmth that a mother gives to her children that grow inside the womb is really the most beautiful feeling,” Piëch reflects, “I was trying to add this to our designs in a way. This love.”

Technical Mastery and Emotional Resonance

SPHAER’s technical expertise complements its artistic ambitions. Mastery over materials enables the studio to create pieces that transform dramatically when illuminated. Pink glass shifts from solid to ethereal, while ceramics evolve from sculptures to glowing forms. These transformations embody the studio’s understanding of light as a dynamic, living element, fostering an emotional resonance rarely achieved in lighting design.

Future Trajectories

Studio SPHAER’s aspirations extend beyond lighting. Piëch envisions the studio venturing into furniture and other interior objects, adhering to the same philosophy that defines its lighting collections. Future projects will continue to explore the profound relationship between objects, spaces, and human experience, expanding the studio’s impact in new directions. “I see Studio SPHAER playing a role in pushing the boundaries of what lighting design can be—not just in terms of aesthetics,” she says, “but as something sculptural—a piece of art that evokes emotions, tells stories, and brings a sense of the warmth of nature to a space.”

The Poetry of Light

“Light is our favorite color,” Piëch declares, capturing the essence of Studio SPHAER in five words. This perspective transforms lighting into a poetic medium, where each piece creates atmosphere, tells a story, and bridges the divide between functional necessity and artistic expression.

Studio SPHAER represents a new frontier in contemporary design thinking. Through their fusion of traditional craftsmanship, selective technological advancement, and philosophical depth, they produce works that transcend conventional categories. Studio SPHAER’s creations shape environments, influence emotions, and invite us to see light not just as illumination but as a transformative force.

In the end, the objects crafted at SPHAER are luminous poetry—testaments to the power of light, molded by hands that understand both technical demands and the quiet impact of artistry. These creations honor the delicate balance of resilience and grace, embodying light’s capacity to reshape spaces and the experiences within them.

Discover the collections of Studio Sphaer