When we first met Harri Koskinen, he was still an unknown student, but he had an amazing idea. An idea that would generate a worldwide success — the Block Lamp.

It has now been three decades since that first introductiona and what began as a student assignment in Helsinki – casting everyday objects in glass – became a design that has since traveled far beyond its origins. Today, the Block Lamp is one of Design House Stockholm’s most recognizable pieces, part of MoMA’s permanent collection, and found in homes across the world.

The idea was disarmingly simple. The strength lies in its contrasts: cold, heavy glass embracing the warmth of a simple light bulb. Sculpture and function in equal measure. Not designed to impress, but to intrigue. To show that even the most ordinary object, when framed in a new way, can spark imagination.

The idea was born when Koskinen, as a design student in Helsinki, wanted to create a gift where the packaging became part of the object. The Block Lamp didn’t fit the workshop requirements, but Harri made 40 of them anyway by himself. They sold out the same evening he presented them. His experiment with encasing a bulb in two glass blocks led to immediate success.

Celebrating the Block Lamp is not about looking back, but about acknowledging why it still matters today. When we call something an icon, it is not a matter of status. It is about resonance – about
designs that continue to feel relevant and inspiring long after their first appearance. They become symbols, touchpoints, and reminders of what design can achieve.

In 2023, the Block Lamp was featured in the special exhibition “Sate...Light. 1998-2022 Salone Satellite Young Designers” at Salone del Mobile in Milan. The show highlighted lighting designs by past Salone Satellite participants whose work went on to influence contemporary design. Seeing the Block Lamp in this context underscored its lasting relevance and the enduring power of a simple idea.

1995 – Design House Stockholm launches Block Lamp

1998 – Awarded Excellent Swedish Design.

1999 – Won the Design Plus Award at the Ambiente Fair in Frankfurt.

1999 – Recognized as Best New Product at the Accent Show in New York.

2000 – Included in MoMA’s permanent collection.

2001 – Received the Red Dot Award, recognizing its innovative and enduring design.

2004 – Received the Compasso d’Oro, for its ability to combine function, aesthetics, and innovation – one of the most prestigious awards in the design world.

2023 – Selected for the special exhibition Sate-Light. 1998–2022 SaloneSatellite Young Designers at Salone del Mobile in Milan.