A 3D printed lamp powered by soil

Inspired by the shape of a sunflower, a prototype for a lamp powered by soil was designed by Mexican designer Milú Brunell in 2025.

Named “Soli”, it can be manually rotated to mimic the flower’s ability to turn and face the sun. Like a sunflower, requires healthy soil to function.

Although soil does not appear to be alive, when it is healthy, it is teeming with insects, fungi and other microorganisms.

These organisms, which live in the soil, break down the natural organic compounds that are found there. When they do this, they release electrons. These electrons can be captured and used to create a small electric current.

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Photo by Milú Brunell

No batteries or electrical wires 

Soli uses a small battery with technology known as a microbial fuel cell (MFC) to capture these electrons. This technology is still in development, but Brunell has long been fascinated by its potential.

Watering the lamp not only gives the user a sense of purpose but also allows water to travel down the lamp’s legs and reach deeper into the ground than surface-level watering.

According to Brunell, the light that Soli emits is more akin to a glow than a task light, but it is sufficient to mark a path or create an atmosphere. This nature-based solution doesn’t rely on batteries or electrical wires and can operate independently.

The current prototype is made of 3D-printed ABS, which was ideal for testing. Next, Brunell will explore more sustainable options, such as ceramic or bio-based materials.

Photo by Milú Brunell

Source: Dezeen

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