Ciénaga Vidrio by ERM Studio brings modular glass luminaires to the Ciénaga series
Ciénaga Vidrio by ERM Studio extends the material language of the original Ciénaga series by transitioning from cast aluminum into glass, introducing a new vocabulary centered on transparency and illumination. The work continues the studio’s interest in modular construction and controlled improvisation, using poured glass to build a system of luminaires that retain individuality while operating within a shared formal logic. Through this shift, the project maintains continuity with its antecedent while gaining a different sensorial register, where light and surface work together to modulate the perception of space.
The production relies on the ladling technique, a process in which molten glass is poured into molds through gestures that remain partially dictated by gravity, timing, and temperature. The technique establishes a delicate balance between precision and contingency, allowing minor fluctuations to become formal features. Each cast results in unique topographies that reveal the dynamic state of the material at the moment of cooling, giving the modules subtle deviations that make them distinct without compromising their compatibility within the system.
For this series, ERM Studio developed molds combining steel and silica sand, intentionally embedding granular textures that influence optical performance. The resulting surfaces interact with illumination in multiple ways, refracting and scattering light across their contours and allowing each luminaire to operate as both source and filter. These behaviors generate secondary effects on surrounding surfaces, with reflections and shadows adding depth and visual complexity. Instead of simply projecting light outward, the modules affect the ambient atmosphere, activating walls and nearby objects through shifting gradients and delicate distortions.
By transitioning the Ciénaga collection into glass, ERM Studio brings transparency and fluidity to a lineage previously articulated through heavier metals. The project continues the studio’s sustained interest in materials that carry visible traces of fabrication, foregrounding procedures rather than concealing them. As with the aluminum series, Ciénaga Vidrio is grounded in repetition, modularity, and a careful examination of how components can aggregate into larger spatial systems while still foregrounding their intrinsic individuality.
ERM Studio is a Mexican design practice oriented toward investigating the limits of processes, materials, and production methods. The studio frequently incorporates both technological and artisanal approaches, treating experimentation and iteration as essential stages of development. By engaging with errors and unexpected outcomes, ERM Studio generates proposals that unite technical inquiry with aesthetic intention. Beyond fabrication, the studio maintains an active commitment to fostering creative exchange and cultivating environments where collaboration and curiosity can lead to new forms of material understanding.
All images courtesy of ERM Studio, shared with permission
https://www.instagram.com/erm__studio
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