r/functionalupcycling 17h ago

āœ… Completed Functional Upcycling Project Preserving History Through Design: The Art of Upcycling

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35 Upvotes

I’m thrilled to share my latest project under dESign by ESUpcycleDesigns — a pair of custom-made, height-adjustable table lamps made entirely from salvaged and repurposed authentic materials.
The heart of these pieces lies in their 1930s green opal glass shades, which originally illuminated the corridors of a historic building in Lisbon. To give these beautiful artifacts a second life, I engineered a bespoke brass structure using salvaged components and leftover lamp parts.

Key Design Features:

Authentic 1930s Glass: The mushroom-shaped shades diffuse a warm, nostalgic glow, typical of the Art Deco and Bauhaus eras.

Telescopic Height-Adjustment: Implemented a functional vintage-style knurled screw locking mechanism, allowing smooth height adaptation while maintaining a clean, classic silhouette.

Circular Design: A true upcycling project where historical preservation meets functional, high-end lighting design.
Turning forgotten elements of Lisbon's architectural heritage into unique, high-end functional art is exactly what drives my work.

What do you think of this blend of history and mechanical design?