Transforming wind-swept desert dunes into layered glass, capturing their fleeting beauty with light and form.

Wind moves through the desert in its own rhythm, shaping patterns as it sweeps across the grains of sand. It leaves behind traces of itself, an ever-changing imprint, fleeting and almost impossible to capture. Living and breathing, yet unyielding to external forces, the desert’s story unfolds within the layered glass of the installation, designed by Petr Vacek.

Structured and smooth surfaces evoke the shifting faces of dunes, shaped over time by wind and nature. A golden nano coating captures the brief moment when sunlight ignites the sand, while dynamic illustrations imbue the work with life: a reminder that even in silence, the desert possesses its own pulse.

The design was realised using a specialised mathematical model, which determines the precise position of each glass component to form the organic patterns of wind-blown dunes. Finally, with the addition of dynamic lighting, the installation comes alive, transforming the static medium into a living, breathing reflection of the desert.

About Colab & Sans Souci Lighting:

Colab is a global digital materials library launched to enable specifiers to discover new materials and connect with suppliers. Designed exclusively for interior designers, architects, contractors, manufacturers and other design professionals, the platform serves as an online database featuring both commercially available and cutting-edge innovative materials. Its purpose is to provide users with the opportunity to explore materials, understand their applications, and connect directly with suppliers.

Founded in 2005 in Crystal Valley in the Czech Republic, Sans Souci Lighting operates a production and innovation facility in Cvikov, with its headquarters in Prague. Their designs are born from a profound respect for the art of glassmaking, seamlessly blending heritage with modern innovation.