For over six decades, Mathmos has shaped how light and movement work in interior spaces through the enduring appeal of the lava lamp. Last week Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis unveiled her take on the classic with the Column Lava Lamp, a floor-to-ceiling version that turns a beloved icon into something sculptural.
According to Sabine, the idea began with a simple conversation and a bold vision of towering light sculptures filled with lava in constant motion. “I always wanted to design a giant lava lamp,” she says. “In my very first meeting with Mathmos, I imagined creating a room filled with these towering forms. That dream is now becoming reality.”
The Column Lava Lamp turns a 1960s classic into a towering work of art, with wax flowing in soft pastels and a refined frosted glass design by Sabine x Mathmos. Photo courtesy of Mathmos
The result stands nearly ten feet tall as a column of frosted glass where wax rises and falls in slow, mesmerizing waves. Available in three soft colors of Bubblegum pink, Peach, and Honeydew green, it keeps the calming quality of the original while completely changing its presence in a room.
The design builds on Mathmos’ legacy, which began in 1963 when British inventor Edward Craven Walker first introduced the Astro Lamp.
What makes the Column work so well is how it pulls from different design worlds at once. It recalls the bold statement pieces of the 1970s while still fitting into the clean, material-driven spaces that define high-end interiors today. It’s decorative but not over the top, functional but not just practical. At a time when most lighting is about efficiency and smart features, the Column is refreshingly simple.
