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MANNAHATTA

Prize(s) Winners in Desk Lamps, Floor Lamps

University / School Name Parsons School of Design

Lead Designers Linying Ma

Entry Description

Before it became Manhattan, this land was called Mannahatta—a wild forest. As urbanization began, the ancient old-growth forest was cut down and tucked into the bones of buildings. Centuries later, as people began to strip away the bricks and concrete, the woods hidden inside returned to our eyes. The roughness of reclaimed wood is not a flaw, but a carrier of history.
Mannahatta is a call back to the original lush forests where the material of this product once grew and a reimagining of an entangled, multispecies nature. By rediscovering the value of reclaimed material, there’s a possibility for humans to use what we already have, and take less from the Earth.

Sustainability Approach

This product use 100% reclaimed wood sourced from local demolished buildings in New York City. By giving a second life to old-growth timber, it reduces the demand for new materials and give an opportunity to reshore the production locally. The lamp's structure uses traditional joinery techniques which get rid of the extra adhesive materials and enable disassembly, repair, and reuse.