Akari
The word Akari (明かり) signifies not only physical light but also the emotional warmth and comfort light brings.
We chose Tyvek for Akari because of its unique properties: it looks and feels like delicate paper, perfect for softly diffusing light, but it is also highly durable, weather-resistant, and lightweight.
Today, Tyvek is widely used in construction, medical packaging, and protective clothing — applications where strength and breathability are essential. This innovative material allows Akari to offer the beauty of traditional paper lanterns combined with the practicality needed for outdoor use.
Akari is not just a lamp — it’s a sculptural object. Its presence is meant to stand out. We wanted to play with a visual paradox: a large outdoor piece that feels almost fragile, as if it were made of delicate paper.
The unique texture and translucency of Tyvek immediately brought to mind the world of traditional Japanese lanterns. That’s where our inspiration began — with the soft forms and calming aura of Japanese lighting. But we also wanted Akari to feel at home in the Marset universe: contemporary, bold, and emotionally expressive.
This duality is what gives Akari its character — both quiet and iconic, subtle yet striking.
Akari enhances gardens, terraces, and urban spaces by adding a poetic glow that invites relaxation and well-being. Its design makes it a subtle yet meaningful presence, perfectly suited for modern lifestyles.
Prototyping & Light Testing
To validate our concept and observe how Tyvek interacts with light in real conditions, we built a 1:2 scale prototype.
This allowed us to test the softness, diffusion, and warmth of the light, as well as the behavior of the material outdoors. The results confirmed Tyvek’s potential to deliver a glowing, paper-like effect — lightweight, poetic, and perfectly suited for exterior environments.
