Unveiled at the acclaimed ROOTS Exhibition during Milan Design Week 2025, Nuevo Alta, also known as New Dawn, is a sculptural lighting fixture by Amsterdam-based designer Aga Blonska. Printed entirely in polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a biopolymer derived from microbial fermentation, the project embodies a compelling vision for circular design, sustainable innovation, and poetic reflection on ecological processes.
Crafted in collaboration with 3D Makers Zone in Haarlem, Nuevo Alta is composed of 52 individually printed components, each distinct yet united in a continuous form spanning approximately 58 by 180 centimeters. This achievement marks the first time that 100% PHA has been successfully printed at this scale and resolution.
Unlike other bioplastics such as PLA, which only degrade under specific industrial conditions, PHA is fully compostable in any natural setting, even in a backyard compost pile. It also absorbs CO₂ during production, positioning it as a transformative material in the shift toward regenerative practices.
The design draws conceptual depth from fermentation itself, the biological process responsible for creating PHA. Blonska reinterprets this invisible metabolic activity as both a source of new energy and a metaphor for transformation.
Referencing the exhibition’s curatorial theme, The Last Supper, Nuevo Alta contemplates the idea of endings, not as finalities, but as beginnings. The leftover food on a plate becomes nourishment for microorganisms, sparking new growth. In this spirit, the lamp’s fluid form represents continuity, memory, and renewal, asking: Who is the last supper truly served for, humankind or nature?
Behind the organic surface lies a robust digital framework. Working within Rhino and Grasshopper, Blonska developed a script that translates a single curve sketch into a complex volumetric form. The Grasshopper definition, composed almost entirely of native components such as Contour, Divide Curve, Scale, and Random, orchestrates the positioning and scaling of each segment.
Some external plugins like Pufferfish, Clipper, and Sasquatch were introduced to enhance computational speed. Meshes were deliberately avoided in favor of curves and points, allowing for tighter control over the geometry’s continuity and precision, an essential concern in large-scale 3D printing, where even minor surface imperfections are magnified.
The slicing process for 3D printing was also executed within the Grasshopper environment and directly linked to the robotic arm software, creating a streamlined workflow that remained entirely within Rhino’s digital ecosystem. According to Blonska, the primary technical challenge did not stem from the modeling or scripting itself, but rather from understanding and adapting to the behavior of the bio-based material. Initially, the manufacturer considered discontinuing PHA due to its unpredictable printing performance.
However, the success of New Dawn reversed that trajectory: it catalyzed renewed investment into refining the material for architectural-scale applications. This outcome not only advanced the technical feasibility of PHA but also reinforced its viability as a sustainable material choice for designers.
Studio Simone van Es, based in Rotterdam, played a critical role in bridging collaborators, facilitating production, and supporting the vision from development to debut. Their involvement ensured that the project’s sustainability ambitions were matched by practical execution.
Nuevo Alta has become more than a design object. It’s a case study in how computation, craft, and environmental insight can converge to propose new narratives for making. It invites reflection not only on form and function but on how we define material afterlife and design responsibility. As conversations around circularity gain urgency, New Dawn stands as a beacon – quietly radical, deeply intentional, and radiant in both light and meaning.
CREDITS
Curator: Simone van Es
Exhibition: ROOTS Exhibition, Masterly Milano, Milan Design Week 2025, IT
Manufacturing and Material Research: 3D Makers Zone, Haarlem, NL
Photos by: Merel van Loon
