Akari Sauna Custom Lighting, NEW York, NY
Akari Sauna Custom Lighting, NEW York, NY
We were tapped by Akari Sauna to develop a custom sconce for their latest location now open in the Lower East Side on Orchard Street. Lichen's senior product designer, Alvaro Ucha Rodriguez designed and fabricated the sconces for the entry, using a technique of sanding down Mylar sheets to create a calming opaque finish.
“I wanted to create a lamp that would have a calming and organic look. The shade starts out as a circle which is then attached to a backing that is a bit smaller, creating a set of folds or “pinches” that give the shade a new shape and volume. After testing with different forms and sizes we settled on the final version that would look good at the sauna space in a repetitive way.” - Alvaro Ucha Rodriguez
About Akari:
Akari, meaning light in Japanese, pays homage to the owner’s upbringing in Tokyo, and her mission to bring people together through the power of deep heat.
Inspired by the cherished onsen and sentō traditions of Japan, Akari aims to recreate the community spirit that these spaces fostered for her - a shared ground where family, friends, and neighbors found respite and momentary escape from the demands of life. In putting saunas at the center of what we do, Akari allows you to disconnect, turn inwards, and meet a new neighbor.
