For my Upcyling project I originally intended to make a candle holder from beer tops. After some discussion and (failed) attempts, it was ultimately decided that I should pursue to create a light using these abundant objects. I decided to create a light due to its necessity in the home. Without artificial light, it would be near impossible to see or locate things at night. My aim was to create a decorative alternative to such a commonly used household item. However I also wanted to be ecologically friendly in the design. This was an important aspect to me seeing as most electronic appliances use up lots of power unnecessarily. Beer tops are commonly known as ‘crown’ tops. They are used to lock in any liquid stored in a glass container, such a as beer bottle or older soft drink bottles.
After numerous parties and social gatherings, it occurred to me that I, like many others just throw out these tops. The more that I thought about it, the more it became apparent what a waste we were contributing to. Observations led me to see bottle tops just lying on the floor or in bins. It became more apparent that these had no real use after they were discarded, they couldn’t really be used again. This is what really appealed to me for my project, as well as the abundance of such objects. They are virtually at any licensed liquor outlet or any party.
The actual design of my idea took many forms before I decided upon my final proposition. I had many intricate ideas that never really came to life due to a few reasons, such as the complexity of the material I was using. Seeing as though the tops are metal, there was only so much I could do to deform it before it lost its original look, and therefore would become undistinguishable as a beer top. Another problem was the size of my design, to make it plausible the size of the light would have to be ridiculously large, which would take some time to complete, as well as collecting thousands of beer tops. After considering these and many other factors, the design I chose was simpler, yet still sophisticated.
I incorporated the use of beer tops with another item that is discarded once broken, coat hangers. I used the wire to create a frame for the light, and then proceeded to thread the bottle caps on the frame. There is no glue used in the construction of the frame, they are all connected by hooking the wire or joined with cable ties. Having the frame cross over at the top allows it to be used as a hanging light, not just a stationary table light, adding versatility to its function. The frame not being perfectly straight or symmetrical was considered part of the design as it helps to disperse the light in various intricate ways. If all the frames and beer tops were the same, the light would be dispersed evenly and look the same. But by not having a uniform and consistent frame, the light reflects off the displaced bottle caps and scatters it variously across the room, giving it its own unique personality and identity.
The reason there is no switch to turn the light on and off is to conserve power. Many electronics and appliances use up electricity even when they’re not being used. This waste is sometimes referred to as vampire energy or standby power, which adds up over time to our electrical usage and power bills. By not having a switch, users are forced to turn it off at the wall socket, hence saving energy and being more ecologically and environmentally friendly.
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