Take me to your leader – this tabletop lamp is a retro sci-fi wonder based the craziest house ever built
Inspired by a bizarre 1960s prefabricated home, the WOLOLOW 2.0 turns retro-futurist architecture into a brilliant bedside lamp
I've seen some unusual approaches to home lighting, but this one looks like it's landed straight from another planet. WOLOLOW 2.0 is a tabletop lamp designed by Arthur Koshatahyan and Kostya Trunov, taking inspiration from one of the strangest buildings of the 1960s.
That building is the Futuro House, a futuristic prefabricated home designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen in 1968. With its flying-saucer silhouette and raised legs, it looked more like something you'd expect to find in a science-fiction film than on a residential street. Now, its distinctive shape has been shrunk down into an eye-catching bedside light.
A miniature flying saucer for your bedside table
WOLOLOW 2.0 recreates the Futuro House's elliptical shape, complete with a ring of oval portholes and three angled metal legs. Its transparent-looking architectural influence is replaced by an opaque shell, while the five available finishes – white, yellow, orange, sky blue and mirror chrome – give it plenty of personality.
When switched on, light shines through the individual openings, highlighting the shape and details of the housing. It's designed to work as either a bedside lamp or an accent light, although I suspect the chrome version will attract just as much attention when switched off.
The updated model also makes a practical change to the original design. Rather than relying on an integrated battery, version 2.0 uses a wired power connection and a replaceable 12V MR16 LED bulb with a GU5.3 fitting. That means you can swap out the bulb when needed, or install a compatible smart LED bulb for features such as dimming and RGB lighting.
How much does WOLOLOW 2.0 cost?
WOLOLOW 2.0 is currently being funded through Kickstarter, although a confirmed retail price and delivery date aren't detailed. The project is the latest version of the original WOLOLOW night lamp, which was also inspired by the Futuro House.
