Sven is a 12-year-old boy with a special hobby: he makes lamps from old appliances. Together with his father, who makes lamps from tree trunks, he often works on creative projects. With his lamps, Sven wants to show that you can make something new and beautiful out of old appliances. With his special hobby, he hopes to inspire people to throw things away less quickly and to be more environmentally aware.
How it began
His passion for making unusual lamps arose when his uncle gave him an old computer screen. 'I wanted to do something with lamps, just like my father, and this seemed like a good start. From that computer screen I made my very first lamp, I liked it so much that I never stopped. For me, it is important to reuse old stuff. I think it's a shame how much is thrown away. That's why I try to give appliances a second life. It's not only fun to do, but also better for the environment.'
From old appliance to new lamp
The process of making a lamp starts with an idea. Sven checks whether the device is big enough to make a socket in it and whether it can hold a cord. If it can, he fetches he takes out the parts he does not need at that moment. In fact, he uses those later for other projects. Then he fixes the fitting and cord, adds a switch and plug and tests if everything works. It takes an average of six hours to make a lamp.
Sven says his hobby can sometimes be quite challenging. 'Every device is different, so I often have to be creative,' Sven says. His most difficult project so far? A lamp made from an old cordless drill. 'I made a mistake when I took it apart, which made it much more complicated. But I didn't give up and eventually it worked.'
Inspiration and dreams for the future
Sven draws inspiration from others. At a market, he met a man who makes lamps from old cameras. 'Super cool! But my biggest source of inspiration remains my father.' He makes beautiful lamps from driftwood and tree trunks. So together they share their ideas and work on beautiful projects.
Reactions to his lamps are always positive. People find them original and fun. They also see how things can get a second life, which inspires them to get creative themselves. That motivates Sven to keep going. He sells his lamps on Facebook and Instagram and sometimes stands at markets. His dream? Reaching more people, being at fairs more often and maybe even advertising his lamps.
Getting started with old stuff yourself? Sven gives tips
- Use your imagination and look closely at what you have.
- Don't just throw something away; maybe you can make something new out of it.
- Have fun in what you do and try to make something beautiful out of it.
Sven hopes his story will inspire people to also do something sustainable and creative. Because together we can make the world a little better!