Upglas by Astep. The poetics of transformation.

Upglas, the new lamp designed by Luca Nichetto for Astep, transforms forgotten fragments of Murano glass into a sculptural luminaire. In this process of contemporary alchemy, waste is elevated to noble matter, and what was once discarded acquires new value. Technical innovation meets artisanal heritage, opening a dialogue between sustainability and beauty that redefines contemporary luxury.

A Reinvented Material

The production of Upglas begins with remnants of hand-blown glass, selected and transformed into a malleable compound through a method reminiscent of working with clay or dough. The result, after a low-temperature firing process, is a glass that preserves the delicacy of craftsmanship while revealing polished, nuanced surfaces with an almost stone-like appearance. Each piece is unrepeatable: chromatic patterns and textures emerge unpredictably, granting every lamp a singular character.

Identity and Permanence

The lamp transcends mere functionality. Switched off, it presents itself as a sculptural object of strong visual presence; illuminated, it projects a direct and welcoming light, able to integrate into both domestic and contract spaces without losing its condition as a unique piece. The choice of color palettes, from black on white to warm red on grey, reinforces this duality between sobriety and expressiveness, tradition and contemporaneity.

A New Notion of Excellence

In Upglas, design not only illuminates but also preserves. Each lamp condenses within itself the memory of Murano glass and projects it into the future through a more sustainable and innovative process. More than a lamp, it is a manifesto of material identity: a way of understanding design as permanence, as conscious transformation, and as an exercise in fidelity to the essential.