"I love natural light," says glass artist Peter Ivy. "I love the way the morning sun reflects off the pond in the garden and shines into the kitchen. I also find beauty in the light that shines through the shoji screens." About 10 years ago, he found an old house with a warehouse in a rural area of Toyama City. He lives there with his family, renovating the building, which still retains its original beams and mud walls.
He did all the renovations himself. He demolished the old roof and raised it a level, creating high windows to let in natural light. He also created an atrium inside the house, allowing light to enter rooms that have no windows. "Toyama has many cloudy days, but the soft light is very pleasant. There is morning light in the morning, evening light in the evening, and the light on rainy days is also different. Living with the feeling of 'changing light' is very calming."
On the other hand, Peter says he is also drawn to the darkness at night. "Rather than brightening up the entire room with ceiling lights, it's better to place light of the necessary brightness where it's needed and leave the rest of the room dark. In fact, when I first moved into this house, there was hardly any lighting. Spending time in a dimly lit room made me think often about what kind of light I really need. For example, a certain amount of light is necessary on a cutting board in the kitchen, but at the dining table, it's enough to be able to see the food, wine, and the faces of the people enjoying it. Eventually, my eyes got used to dark spaces, and I realised that I could just enjoy the darkness at night."
The dining room at Peter's house. 
There are no lights that illuminate the entire room, and pendant lights are hung only where necessary, such as above the table or kitchen counter.
The key to a rich life is "D.Y.L"
Peter is known for his glass jars, which have snap-fit lids secured with copper wire. They are popular as containers for pasta and coffee beans, but he says, "I didn't originally think of them as products, I made them as things I wanted to use in my own life," and that attitude hasn't changed to this day. "A home is a place to live, and also a place to create. I often say 'DYL', not DIY. Designing Your Life."
"The important thing is to think about it and try it out. There are a lot of good things on the market today. But if you think about it carefully, you might find that it's not quite what you need, or that it doesn't suit you. Use that as a hint to find new ways to use it, tweak it, or even make it yourself. That's DYL."
Peter's newest DYL project is a glass-shade pendant light. He says, "I like the round shape of the bulb and the design of the filament, but when it's turned on it's too bright to see." So he came up with the idea of attaching a half mirror (a mirror that transmits light) to the inside of the blown glass shade. The shades are hexagonal and conical. The mirror reflects the surrounding scenery, making the shape of the shade stand out clearly.
However, when the light is turned on, the silhouette of the round bulb and the delicate light of the filament gradually emerge. You are reminded of the beauty of the bulb and its light, something you are so used to seeing. "From morning to noon, from sunny to cloudy. The shade's appearance changes gently as the sunlight changes from moment to moment. When it gets dark and the light is turned on, it shows a different kind of beauty." Indeed, this is lighting that gives you the feeling of the "changing light" that Peter likes, and lighting that allows you to enjoy the "darkness of night."
The hexagonal Rokkakei Pendant Light. 
When lit, the round bulb and filament appear through the glass shade.
How we created "lighting that lets you enjoy changing light and changing expressions"
Peter uses the hand-blown glass technique, which dates back approximately 2,000 years, to create his works. The method involves molten glass in a high-temperature furnace, winding it around the end of a rod, and then blowing air into it to shape it. He has made several glass lamps in the past, but the shade he tried this time was a little special. "I thought it would be nice if the light could leak out from the top of the shade as well. It reminded me of an old lantern."
The conical pendant light is cone-shaped. Warm, incandescent light shines through the top of the shade. The open top also helps prevent heat buildup. 
The glass is melted in a homemade melting furnace, rolled up, blown into, and then shaped by spreading, cutting, and using molds.
Hexagonal shades are made using a metal mold. After blowing the glass, it is quickly placed over the mold while still soft and shaped. "If the glass is not expanded enough when blowing, it won't fit into the mold, and if it is expanded too much, the shape will be vague." Furthermore, the technique of cutting off the bottom and both ends of the opening after blowing the glass and before it is cooled slowly is "quite difficult, so I think only we can do it," he says.
In the case of blown glass, it is common to let the shaped piece cool slowly in a slow-cooling furnace before cutting the edges. However, Peter cuts both ends before letting the glass cool, and then folds the cut edges. The doubled edges are smooth and comfortable, and this soft feel is also a characteristic of Peter's glass. In addition, for this project he also made non-glass parts such as copper sockets and nuts. "When I try to make something I really want, existing products just aren't enough."
Cut the end and fold it twice while it is still hot. This method is strong and feels good to the touch, and is also used for glass jar lids. Finish the other end and then cool it in an annealing oven. 
Peter also created the part that connects the socket and cord. The copper wire design is reminiscent of a glass jar. 
He likes to sketch designs on notebooks made of thin, see-through Japanese paper. He also uses CAD for his designs. He prints them out on a 3D printer and assembles them to check the size and other details.
The completed pendant lamps are, of course, used daily in Peter's home. Three are on the kitchen counter and one is above the dining table. In the dining room, the lamps are lowered to a low position so that the light bulbs are not directly in Peter's eyes.
"So a brightness of around 25W or 40W is sufficient. It beautifully illuminates the delicious-looking food and wine, and you can see your family's faces clearly. Because it's dark, the silhouette of the light and the bulbs reflected in the shade look even more beautiful. Lighting isn't just about enjoying brightness, it's also about enjoying the darkness of the night."
The glass lighting floating in the darkness is very beautiful. But in the morning it creates a different scene, and its appearance changes with the passage of time. Peter's lighting is currently on sale at Tomorrow's Best Buy Market, a special event celebrating the 1000th issue of BRUTUS. Be sure to check out the lighting that brings rich light and expression to your everyday life.
Now on sale at BRUTUS' "Tomorrow's Best Buy Market." Smaller sizes will also be available from February 22nd!
Rokkakei Pendant Light (L)
Originally blended colored glass and copper parts. Includes one 25W and one 40W ELPA mini ball bulb. Cord lengths available: 50cm, 100cm, and 150cm. Includes a hook ceiling. Approximately W160 x D160 x H240mm. Price: 239,500 yen.
Rokkakei Pendant Light (S)
On February 22nd, an S size (139,500 yen) measuring approximately W160 x D160 x H210mm will also be available.
Conical Pendant Light (L)
Originally blended colored glass and copper parts. Includes one 25W and one 40W ELPA mini ball bulb. Cord lengths available: 50cm, 100cm, and 150cm. Includes a hook ceiling. Approximately φ225 x H140mm. Price: 239,500 yen.
Conical Pendant Light (S)
On February 22nd, an S size (approximately φ160 x H110mm) (139,500 yen) will also be available.
