Dernier & Hamlyn has been manufacturing, designing, restoring, and installing bespoke lighting since 1888.
Clearly being around for such a long time means that their business is sustainable in terms of longevity, but how sustainable is it in terms of environmental performance? It’s a subject that the company takes very seriously both for its own sake and to meet the requirements of its clients. And the most practical way for this to be achieved and for Dernier & Hamlyn and its clients to contribute to the circulate economy and live sustainably, is by reusing existing light fittings rather than manufacturing new.
Around a quarter of their business is restoration of lighting that already exists, much of it originally made by their team 20, 30, 40 or more years ago. This is the most sustainable way possible to produce bespoke lighting and can also be the best way to achieve period appropriate fittings and lighting that is most appropriate to achieving a sense of place.
A great example of this approach is a project where they revisited chandeliers in a hotel that their team had made almost forty years before to give them a new identity. The 12 crystal chandeliers that they had hung throughout the building in the 1980s were updated both aesthetically and technically. The chandeliers were taken to their factory where the crystal was meticulously cleaned, the chandeliers’ metalwork restored and the wiring updated. The chandeliers were then rehung in clusters to give a more current and playful twist.
A major development is the massive improvements that have been made in LED lamps. When they first started emerged some 20 years ago the light quality wasn’t consistent and was often very cold and they weren’t meeting the long-life ambitions that had been boasted. However, light levels and temperatures have improved beyond recognition meaning that wastage is massively reduced and costs to change lamps has also decreased. Nowadays there are very fittings that Dernier & Hamlyn’s team produces that do not contain LED lamps because they achieve both the functional and aesthetic effects required.
Dernier & Hamlyn director Michael Mulhall said: “I am extremely proud to work for a company with such an illustrious history and take extremely seriously our commitment to reduce our business operations impact on the environment. We have made significant progress in this area and are working on other initiatives that will reduce our carbon footprint further.”
Find out more about Dernier & Hamlyn on their member profile page here
Member-created content 8 months ago | From members