Minimalist design dealer and publication, Leibal, founded by our very own Skim Milk contributor Leo Lei, launches its first ever product collaboration with HB-AS, a multidisciplinary object creation studio founded by San Francisco-based designers Hank Beyer and Alex Sizemore. This partnership marks Leibal’s debut activation of its curatorial arm which will offer exclusive collections created with young, emerging designers. “Through this collection, I have come to deeply appreciate and enjoy the process of conceiving and collaborating on a project with designers I have long admired,” reflects Lei. “I have always supported designers from afar through our publication, but to now be able to make such a direct impact with physical pieces feels incredibly fulfilling.”
This lighting series is doubly special as the relationship between HB-AS and Leibal goes back to 2017, when the design platform published one of the studio’s early works. That collection, titled Berea, featured a number of offcuts the designers salvaged from the Berea sandstone formation in Northeastern Ohio, which they then turned into minimalist trays, tables, stools, and lamps.
The evolution of that collection is the Leibal x HB-AS Berea Sandstone Lamps, made from remnants of the very same quarry. The earthen material is formed over the course of 350 million years by a nearby river flow from Eastern Canada gradually depositing traces of clay, iron, aluminum, magnesium, and other minerals. Over time, these deposits vary and can be visually distinguished by the colors, marks, and patterns across the stone. Modern industrial quarrying involves planting, cutting, coring, and grinding the stone to create specific cuts and textures but renders the offcuts unusable for commercial purposes.
HB-AS rescued these pieces destined for the landfill and transformed them into an 11-piece collection of sandstone lighting fixtures. Minimally modified, the lamps are raw, rugged, and highlight the natural origin of the material. The soft glow of the light source contrasts beautifully against the sharp cuts and textured surfaces of the sandstone, creating an elegant visual of light and weight.
To shop the Leibal x HB-AS Berea Sandstone Lamps collection, visit leibal.com.
Installation and product photos by Hank Beyer, quarry photos by Michael Shyr.