Nina Edwards Anker, a Brooklyn-based designer and founder of architecture and design practice nea studio, has created a new collection of hanging pendant lamps made from dried sheets of algae.

Inspired by Edwards Anker's ethos of incorporating local and organic materials in her designs to give them a sense of place, the lights were designed to highlight the potential of seaweed and algae as a raw material.

Designed to be used with LED bulbs, the pendant shades are hand crafted from chlorophyta, a type of marine green algae, that has been treated to create a flexible yet firm transluc material. The treated algae sheets are then moulded around objects, before being left to dry. Topping each shade is a circular metal frame to attach a lightbulb to, that, when switched on, glows through the translucent shade. Due to the organic quality of the material each shade is completely unique, boasting its own sculptural structure and colour.

"We allow the raw nature of each individual sheet of seaweed to form it's own sculptural piece," says Edwards-Anker.

"The material retains its original organic nature, translucency and colour, so that each hand-crafted light shade becomes a unique sculptural piece on its own," she adds.

The lights are also customisable, with buyers able to choose from a number of configuration options and finishes, such as brushed brass, bronze and polished chrome.

In addition, the company is looking to expand the range with sconces and table lamps.