Outofstock’s Boya

A lamp inspired by buoys bobbing on the sea.

We love design studio Outofstock. This international outfit was formed following a chance encounter in Stockholm – indeed its name derives from the words ‘Out of Stockholm’. Its co-founders Gabriel Tan and Wendy Chua from Singapore, Gustavo Maggio from Argentina and Sebastián Alberdi from Spain first met at the Electrolux Design Lab – an annual design competition for emerging industrial designers – in 2005, and kept in touch, before joining forces the following year.

And now this company has unveiled Boya (meaning buoy), a lamp inspired by buoys on the sea – hence its name – and the lights in lighthouses. It’s manufactured by US company Environment.

Its base is made of turned solid oak or maple and has a blown glass shade in a smoky grey tone. When switched on, the lamp casts a softly diffused light, creating a fabulous atmosphere.

The lamp’s charm lies in the natural ‘imperfections’ of the wood it’s partly made from, which comes from the Midwest in the US. Cracks, knots and holes in the wood enhance its sense of authenticity.