Design is Human
Photography by Hans Boddeke


Teresa van Dongen is an Amsterdam based designer fascinated by light as a translation of energy, the transparency of glass and what it beholds and the physics of movement. In Ambio, Dongen's love of understanding the languages of physics, chemistry and biology is translated into ambient lighting.

Photography by Hans Boddeke

Ocean waves glowing blue in the dark of night, anyone who has ever experienced this knows how magical it looks.

The phenomenon is caused by bioluminescent micro-organisms in seawater that emit light when provided with oxygen every time a wave turnes. This principle inspired me to combine my passion for design and biology in a bioluminescent light installation.

Ambio balances two weights and a glass tube half-filled with a "Artificial Seawater Medium" containing a carefully selected type of these unique luminescent species.

Photography by Hans Boddeke

Give the lamp a gentle push every so often and the weights will keep it moving and thus glowing.

Ambio is a visualization of a research on how to use nature as a source of energy. The bacteria (Photobacterium species, isolated from the octopus) are provided by B.M. Joosse and R.M.P. Groen, two Life Science and Technology students at the TU Delft who currently work on prolonging the lifespan of the population for a possible next generation of Ambio.

For Dongen, the greater value lies in collaborations with people that can continue to surprise and inspire you with their knowledge.