Ugly Duckling Lamp Uses Crappy Materials To Look Great

PVC piping and cut up soda bottles don’t exactly connote beauty and grace. But in the hands of a smart designer, they’re turned into striking table lamps – the Ugly Duckling lamp project. Each even has a swanlike form. Clever!

Each ugly duckling lamp, made in multiple colours, is an exercise in both recycling and attractive design – and we definitely dig the minimal look too. Plastic bottle “shades” of varying thickness and opacity can be swapped in and out too, changing the lamp’s brightness. As far as stories about lamps go, this is a very touching one. [designboom]