A Danish theatre has transformed discarded crystal production waste into a luminous installation that merges craft, performance and circular design.
Copenhagen’s Court Theatre collaborated with Czech lighting manufacturer Bomma on the ‘Crystal Cloud’ installation, presented as part of the 3daysofdesign 2026 festival. The project was staged inside the recently renovated 18th century theatre, which reopened after a five-year restoration programme that preserved its historic interiors while introducing contemporary cultural programming.
At the heart of the installation was Fragments of Light, an immersive experience combining lighting, dance and material storytelling. Visitors were invited into a suspended atmosphere where light drifted through layers of air, fabric and glass, dissolving the boundary between performance space and installation.
The lighting itself was composed of Bomma’s Fragments pendants, designed by Dechem Studio. Each pendant is manufactured using upcycled crystal shards recovered from previous production runs at Bomma’s glassworks, giving new value to material that would otherwise be discarded.
The production process begins with Fragment glass panels, which are cut and then meticulously refined by master glass cutters. The resulting forms resemble gemstones shaped under pressure, revealing complex internal structures and subtle variations in refraction. No two pieces are identical, reinforcing the unique character of each pendant within the installation.
By clustering multiple fragments into a suspended “cloud”, the designers created a sculptural lighting composition that shifts in appearance as viewers move through the space. Light is refracted, broken and recomposed across the crystal surfaces, amplifying the sense of motion within the performance.
To respond to the theatrical setting, a series of live dance performances were commissioned specifically for the installation. These performances interacted with the lighting environment, reinforcing the narrative of transformation and material rebirth.
The project demonstrates how industrial glass waste can be elevated through design and craftsmanship into cultural and artistic value, extending material life cycles while creating immersive spatial experiences.
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