We, Anne and Sebastian Wangnick, love beauty and design, Bauhaus and light, creativity and challenges. While experimenting with LEDs, the idea arose to colorfully illuminate the dome of our Wagenfeld WG 24 lamp. The thick opal glass seemed to be a perfect diffuser. The requirement was that the lamp itself remain unchanged and could be returned to its original state at any time. Only the bulb was to be replaced. The cord switch was also to be retained, with no external intervention.

In 2015, the first prototype was created from leftover LEDs. Ten years and many attempts later, we have a lamp with a light source, including a lighting choreography.

For our lighting objects, we use the copyrighted WG 24 re-edition from TECNOLUMEN, authorized by Prof. Wilhelm Wagenfeld. https://tecnolumen.de/leuchten/wg-24/. The lamp itself remains in its original condition and is not modified; instead of a standard incandescent bulb, a different „light source“ is screwed into the E27 thread, which can be unscrewed at any time.

The light source is screwed into the socket of the Wagenfeld lamp instead of a standard E27 incandescent bulb. This results in several requirements and wishes for our light source. It needs an E27 base, must be stable enough to screw into, safe to touch, and compatible with both 110V and 230V. It must fit through the opening of the glass dome from below, despite the size variations of the hand-blown domes. It should emit white light like a normal incandescent bulb and illuminate the dome evenly. The on/off switch is used to switch between the different modes, and no external cell phone control is required. Multiple lamps should be able to illuminate together in a coordinated manner, not identically but complementarily.

The light source consists of a 3D-printed dome equipped with RGBW LEDs, which rests on the support frame of the glass dome.

A power supply, mounted on an E27 thread, is screwed into the socket.

A circuit board is attached to the dome, which controls the LEDs and uses a microphone to detect the click of the cord switch on the glass. This signal is used to advance the light choreography. The power supply, circuit board, and dome are connected by cables.

The lamp is first and foremost a lamp, so it should provide bright light for viewing. That's why we work with RGBW LEDs. Direct white LEDs provide better white light than RGB LEDs. This program is called Original.

Moreover, our Wagenfeld lamp is also a work of art that shines in bright colors. Since we have limited appeal for rapid color changes and colorful flashing, and we want our gaze to be able to rest on the lamp for longer periods of time, we explored various color models and color circles and developed choreographies from them.

Each choreography has a theme. The first and most obvious theme is Bauhaus: red - yellow - blue, clear colors, no mixtures. And, given our history, the rainbow is, of course, a theme. We call it Gropius, after the quote by Walter Gropius: Color is my favorite color. The color mixtures lie on the path from blue-yellow-red to colorful. Johannes Itten, a teacher at the Bauhaus, developed theories on this, hence the theme Itten: primary colors red - yellow - blue and first-order mixed colors orange - green - violet. We researched further and came across Ewald Hering's color wheel: red - yellow - green - blue. The colors dance across the glass dome. The theme Ballet is inspired by the Triadic Ballet, developed in connection with the Bauhaus. Since lamps bring the day into the home, one theme is Sky, with sun and moon, clouds and rain.

Each lamp is turned on and off with the cord switch.

When switched on, the lamp glows white—as expected—and is no different from other lamps.

With a simple click of the ball of the pull switch against the glass stand, the light choreography begins, or it switches from one theme to the next.

Each additional lamp that is switched on near at least one Wagenfeld lamp with our light source connects with them and integrates into the ongoing choreography, usually slightly modifying the theme. Clicking on any switched-on lamp causes a theme change for all lamps in the ensemble.

In 2011, we renovated our house. This led to the question of lighting the stairs and hall. This is how we came up with the LED lighting for our stairs.

At the same time, Anne's brother was planning to open a community workshop and a Repair Café in Hannover-Nordstadt. He needed advertising and booked a booth at the Maker Faire. For this, we designed flags with LED lighting and eye-catchers.

In 2015, we presented our first prototype of the Wagenfeld Reloaded at the Maker Faire in Hannover.

The light fixture consisted of leftover LED strips mounted on a wire frame. The color concept was simple: Bauhaus colors red, yellow, and blue, rotating like pie slices, rainbow colors rotating, and white. From the outside, the lamp looked original, and the program was selected using the pull switch. Then the project was put on hold for many years because the construction was shaky and the power supply was unreliable. We needed a support body and a reliable power supply.

In 2022, a 3D printer found its way into our house, and Sebastian discovered his joy in designing. This led to the first designs for connecting the power supply and lamp socket.

Prototype 1 consisted of LED rings with different LED spacing on the rings. However, we wanted an even distribution of the light points with a suitable distance from the glass of the sphere. Support body or flexible circuit board? Arrangement in rows or triangles? We investigated various bodies and their unfolded configurations. Two new prototypes emerged, and many new problems arose.

At the same time, we discussed color concepts. How colorful and how quickly should the light change? Can we connect several lamps together and coordinate their color play, and at what spatial distances? We drew inspiration from museums and books, compared color theories, and learned about color perception.

Development of the support body began in 2023. We experimented with exoskeletons and domes in different colors, with the arrangement and distribution of LEDs, and encountered thermal problems, especially with bright white.

To operate multiple lamps simultaneously in the same room, we developed a Wi-Fi connection that allows the lamps to synchronize with each other and exchange messages.

In 2025, we revisited the project. We standardized all previous prototypes, defined the supporting dome and lamp components, and retired the first prototype. We also set up a lighting laboratory in the former oil tank room to develop the choreography of several lamps.

Insert pictures of prototype 1 and videos of the new lamp here.

* https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhaus-Leuchte * https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Gropius * https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farbkreis * https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triadisches_Ballett * https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Itten * https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ewald_Hering * Johannes Itten: Teaching Art, Boesner 2017, ISBN 978-3-928003-07-0, https://www.boesner.com/johannes-itten-kunst-lehren-24649 * Leuchte! Design Icon in the Light of Art, Weserburg Bremen 2016, ISBN 978-3-946059-03-5, https://weserburg.de/ausstellung/leuchte/ * bauhaus-archiv berlin, Magdalena Droste: bauhaus1919-1933, Taschen Verlag 2019, ISBN 978-3-8365-6551-6 * Academy of Arts, Norbert Stück: the abstracts - Schlemmer and Bohner - The Triadic Ballet, Academy of Arts Berlin 2019, ISBN 978-3-88331-231-6 * Kunstmuseum Krefeld: Maison Sonia Delaunay, exhibition catalogue, Hatje Cantz Verlag Berlin 2022, ISBN 978-3-7757-5379-1 * our own projects and Velten's pages