Interview with Thomas Lykke of OEO Studio on the Mater Terra Collection

As part of our ongoing spotlight on thoughtful, sustainable design, our Head of Ecommerce & Marketing, Robyn, sat down with Thomas Lykke, Creative Director of OEO Studio and designer of the Terra Collection, to discuss the ideas behind Mater’s latest lighting range, exclusively available at David Village Lighting.

Designed using Matek™, Mater’s proprietary material made from coffee waste and e-waste, the Terra Collection includes a pendant light, wall light, and portable light, all driven by a desire to do more with less.

In this interview, Thomas shares the origins of the project, how materiality shaped the design process, and what it means to push sustainable innovation without compromising on visual and tactile appeal.

Watch the interview here or read the transcript below.

Robyn:

So what sparked the idea for the Terra collection? Was it the material, the form, or something else entirely?

Thomas:

It was the material, for sure. I was very intrigued by both the possibilities and also the surface of the material. The first time I saw it, you know, we did the Compound Chair, and by then we were already really exploring the potential. And then I felt that it could be a great lamp.

Mater has done some other kinds of lamps before, but just simple and while this looks simple, it’s more technical. And so I really wanted to see how far we could push the material in terms of adding a lot of features into the mould. So it was also, in that sense, it was also an experiment, to see really how far we could push the material.

Robyn:

So did the material influence the design, or did the design come first?

Thomas:

I mean, the design is almost like an archetype, right? It’s not like, in that sense, a shape you’ve never seen before, there’s thousands of lampshades that have a similar shape. It’s a triangle. But what makes it different is the material. It was very clear for us that what we wanted to create was a really minimal lamp, where the material did the talking. So this very simple shape, and then what really brought it to life is the material, which I don’t think we’ve seen before in that kind of form. So i think that’s what makes it interesting and intriguing most of all. It’s something you’ve never seen before. It really triggers your mind.

“We wanted to create a really minimal lamp where the material did the talking.”

Robyn:

Were there any unexpected tests or outcomes when using the Matek material?

Thomas:

I mean, it is a new material. So again, it came back to how far we could push it. Mater didn’t have that experience because the previous pieces were bigger and less detailed. What you see here is how we actually incorporated a lot of things into the mould, which is something you don’t see when it’s finished. But that’s what really makes it revolutionary in a way, because we could go down to tiny, tiny, very, very accurate details in the mould. And there were no mistakes in it. So we could incorporate the O-ring to make it more water safe. For a normal lamp, you’d have to apply a lot of other materials to make it efficient. Here, we could add it to the material. So we also have way less components. That made it much more simple, but also more sustainable.

Robyn:

How important is sustainability when you’re putting a new collection together?

Thomas:

I mean, Mater is obviously, in general, founded to be a conscious brand, more sustainable brand, you know, with everything they do. I think, really, the Matek material takes it to the next level. So this green-tech thinking, for me as a designer, and for our studio, also being one of the founding fathers of Mater, it’s super important.

Robyn:

Do you think end users are becoming more curious about what things are made from, not just how they look?

Thomas:

Yeah, I think so. I think the world has become more mature. In the sense of sustainability, in the beginning, the very early days, it was like crawling. You could also see that in the materials that they didn’t have. Creating one material is one thing, but taking it to a big scale production is a different thing. And I think what Mater has done with Matek, is taken a really great idea, something that actually solves a problem, removing waste from the Earth, and then create beautiful objects. I think it’s really revolutionary. And then, of course, it has to look good. It’s not enough for it to be just a nice or sympathetic idea. People also need to aspire to it in terms of aesthetics.

“It’s not enough for it to be just a nice idea - people also need to aspire to it in terms of aesthetics.”

Robyn:

Did you design the product with any specific spaces in mind?

Thomas:

Well, the first place we used it was Sticks’n’Sushi in Battersea, right? And I think it works really well, both in clusters and as a single lamp. I was actually surprised by how good the lighting is for such a small product. It’s also very non-blinding. That was something we were really obsessed with, not creating a lamp that blinds you when you’re sitting under it. I hate that. So when you create places for restaurant dining, that’s super important, as is the acoustics, as well, and comfort of course. But also for office spaces and residential projects. I’m planning to use it myself at my desk at my office, which is close to the sea, so I though it was perfect for that, it kind of reminds me of the stones I pick up on the beach. That obviously ties into the name of the collection too.

Robyn:

Do you have more plans to work with the Matek material?

Thomas:

Mater is pushing themselves in terms of new developments. We’re working on a new version of the Compound Chair using a different material composition. It’s interesting to see where the future takes Mater, and we’ll definitely follow that. It’s been really interesting for me as a designer, and for our studio, to work with a new material. You don’t get that opportunity every day.

“It’s been really interesting for me as a designer to work with a new material – you don’t get that opportunity every day.”

Robyn:

If you could make any product, or reimagine any product, using the Matek material, what would it be?

Thomas:

With Matek? Oh wow… I don’t know. That’s a good question. Maybe a speaker, a big speaker. Just because… yeah, I like speakers. I think that could be great, actually.

Robyn:

Great. Well, thank you.

Thomas:

You’re welcome.

The Terra Collection is a quiet but confident example of how sustainable design can feel both forward-thinking and familiar. Through its stripped-back silhouette and technical precision, Thomas Lykke and Mater have shown how recycled materials can shape products that are not just environmentally considered, but emotionally resonant.

We’re proud to be the exclusive UK retail partner for the Mater Terra Collection. Explore the range online or get in touch with our team for tailored advice on how to bring these pieces into your project.