YAWN concrete nightlight sculpts a playful face-like expression

"Originally trained as a sculptor, Reutimann developed YAWN through physical prototyping, treating it as a small architectural composition. The stepped base and cantilevered vertical element were refined through iterative models to achieve balance, proportion, and a distinct posture. The resulting form suggests a subtle anthropomorphic presence: a compact body supporting an upright element that reads as a head, with two recessed 'eyes' set into its surface."

"Designer Roger Reutimann cast the lamp's body entirely in concrete, emphasizing mass and material density. Producing a refined object in this medium required precise mold fabrication, controlled aggregate selection, vibration techniques to eliminate air pockets, and careful surface finishing. Crisp edges and consistent pigmentation were achieved through repeated casting trials. Each piece is hand-cast, cured, sanded, and sealed in the studio."

"Two diffused resin lenses form the lamp's 'eyes,' housing dimmable, smart-home compatible LEDs. Integrating electrical components within a solid mineral mass required concealed internal channeling and thermal management to maintain structural integrity and long-term performance. The illumination emerges softly from these recessed apertures, reinforcing the impression of a face in low light."

YAWN is a minimalist nightlight designed by Roger Reutimann that translates Bauhaus principles into a compact domestic object. Originally trained as a sculptor, Reutimann developed the piece through physical prototyping, treating it as a small architectural composition. The stepped base and cantilevered vertical element create a subtle anthropomorphic presence resembling a compact body with an upright head and two recessed 'eyes'. The lamp's body is entirely hand-cast in concrete, emphasizing material density and mass. Two diffused resin lenses house dimmable, smart-home compatible LEDs that emerge softly from recessed apertures. Production involves precise mold fabrication, controlled aggregate selection, vibration techniques, and careful surface finishing to achieve crisp edges and consistent pigmentation. The design balances modernist rigor with playful expression through its face-like geometry.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine