Studio Banda x Alex Ladda Architects

What if the materials we discard held untapped potential for beauty? The Tepi Lighting Series reimagine how we perceive waste teak wood by blending its raw, organic edges with the sleek precision of stainless steel. Each lamp highlights the rugged, tactile texture of reclaimed wood against the smooth, polished metal, creating a dynamic interplay between natural imperfections and industrial refinement. In the timber-based furniture industry, the outer layers of wood are often discarded—deemed too soft, brittle, and lacking in strength for traditional use. This excess material, despite its flaws, carries untapped potential. The Tepi Lighting Series began with a simple question: can we find new purpose and beauty in what is typically cast aside? By re-examining these offcuts, we sought to reveal the hidden value within, turning what was once considered waste into something meaningful. Through this process, we discovered that even the most overlooked materials can tell a powerful story when seen in a different