Basalt: Evoking Nature's Magnitude

Tala co-founder Josh Ward walks us through the journey to create the Basalt range.

Awestruck.

This was the dominant feeling when we visited the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland a few years back.
We had been researching natural patterns for a new product range, and were drawn to the rectilinear forms and coastal drama.

The Giant’s Causeway (or Clochán an Aifir in its native language) was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986 and has some 40,000 basalt stone pillars running along the rugged coastline.

Basalt is a fine-grained volcanic rock. Its distinct columnar structure is a result of molten lava being pushed out from the Earth’s core. The size of each column is the direct result of the speed at which it cools above the surface.

We drew parallels between this and with the process of sand casting with brass, where the metal is heated and cooled to form into its desired shape. This gave us the opportunity to play with the surface design. The Basalt range is designed to age as finely as the ‘Causeway, full of character and texture.

This initial seed of inspiration quickly grew into prototypes for a new range of lights that would mimic the natural process in its form and production methods. Working with both sand casted brass and lost-wax stainless steel processes, we chose to contrast the top of the pendants with a smooth polished finish.

Combining premium natural materials with mouth blown borosilicate glass, the Basalt range is available in Brass or Stainless Steel. The warm LED glow from each angular glass bulb is dimmable and softly illuminates your interior space, and we have made the series available in Single, Triple or Nine Pendant combinations for a layered and flexible design.

Find out more about the Basalt range, here.