Volivik

Developed in 2006, Volivik stands as one of the studio’s earliest milestones in the exploration of "industrial bastardism" and the revaluation of everyday objects. This lighting fixture, which has become a recognizable icon of contemporary Spanish design, was conceptualized during the studio’s formative years in collaboration with Enpieza!. It represents a radical departure from traditional luxury lighting by utilizing one of the most ubiquitous and humble tools of the modern era: the BIC Cristal ballpoint pen.

The design team approached Volivik as a study on the accumulation and modularity of mass-produced items. By stripping the BIC pen of its primary function—writing—the studio revealed its secondary, often overlooked, aesthetic qualities: its transparency, its hexagonal geometry, and its ability to refract light. The project challenges the viewer’s perception of value, proving that through careful arrangement and a change in context, a disposable office supply can be transformed into a sophisticated, jewel-like chandelier.

Technically, Volivik is a masterclass in structural repetition. The lamp is composed of hundreds of clear BIC pens, which are meticulously arranged in concentric circles around a central light source. These pens act as individual prisms; when the lamp is illuminated, the clear plastic bodies and their internal ink tubes catch and disperse the light, creating a warm, crystalline glow and a complex play of shadows. The assembly process is entirely mechanical, relying on a series of metallic rings that hold the pens in place, ensuring that the components maintain their original integrity.

As a foundational piece in the studio's portfolio, Volivik exemplifies the team’s ability to find "hidden beauty" within the surplus of the artificial environment. It has been exhibited and sold internationally, finding its way into prestigious design catalogs and private collections. By elevating a low-cost, mass-manufactured object to the status of a design classic, the studio set a precedent for a career-long commitment to sustainable thinking and the poetic reuse of industrial resources.