In Conversation with Volker Haug Studio

Volker Haug Studio has built a reputation for creating lighting that balances precision with playfulness. How would you describe the philosophy that continues to guide the studio today? 

At its heart, the studio is still guided by curiosity, exploring how light, materials and form can come together to create something that feels both familiar and unexpected. 

Our process has become more refined over the years, but the spirit remains the same. Precision gives a design clarity and longevity, while playfulness brings warmth, personality and a sense of enjoyment. 

Ultimately, we create lighting designed to be lived with, pieces that contribute to the atmosphere of a space and spark a small moment of joy every time they are switched on. 

Many of your pieces feel as though they sit somewhere between functional object and sculptural artwork. How do you approach that balance when developing a new design? 

For us, the two are inseparable. A light fitting has a practical role to perform, but it also shapes how we experience a space emotionally. 

We first think about what is missing in the market and the atmosphere we want to create. It's a collaborative process, drawing on the entire studio's perspectives, team members bring backgrounds in lighting, jewellery, interiors, furniture and object design, leading us to ideas we wouldn't reach individually. 

From there, the form evolves through making, prototyping and responding to materials, always searching for a balance where the object has a strong sculptural presence but never overwhelms the space around it. The most successful pieces perform beautifully as lighting while inviting curiosity as objects in their own right.

NG01 marks the studio's first portable lamp. What inspired the decision to explore portability, and why did now feel like the right time? 

Portability opens up a different relationship with light. Rather than being fixed to a room, it becomes something that can move with you and adapt to different moments throughout the day. 

What appealed to us most was creating a portable light that could become part of everyday rituals and be enjoyed for years to come.

The collection references the enduring nature of antique tableware and the intimacy of candlelight. Can you tell us more about these influences and how they informed the final design? 

We were fascinated by the quiet longevity of antique tableware, objects used every day, passed between generations, their scratches and imperfections adding to their character rather than diminishing it.  

We wanted NG01 to embrace that same durability and familiarity. This thinking informed our choice of materials. We selected polished stainless steel and unsealed brass because they are robust, age beautifully and develop a patina over time. 
 
We were also thinking about the atmosphere created by candlelight, its sense of comfort, connection and occasion. We wanted NG01 to feel familiar and approachable, almost as though it had always existed, while creating a warm, intimate quality of light that encourages people to slow down.

NG01 was originally conceived through a commission for Kerstin Thompson Architects and the National Gallery of Australia café. How did that collaboration shape the design? 

Kerstin Thompson Architects were seeking a portable light that would enhance the café experience while responding to the significance of the National Gallery setting. 

While originally conceived for a shared public space, we wanted it to feel adaptable across hospitality, hotels, residential and commercial settings. What began as a site-specific commission ultimately revealed the potential for a broader collection, becoming the foundation for NG01.

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