Designed by Aga Blonska and brought to life by 3D Makers Zone, the fully biodegradable lamp made from PHA marks a major leap for sustainable design and additive manufacturing.
Milan, April 2025 — At this year’s Milan Design Week, a sculptural new lighting fixture captured the attention of designers, technologists, and sustainability advocates alike. Called Nuevo Alta—meaning New Dawn—this striking piece is more than just a beautiful object. It’s the result of an ambitious collaboration that redefines what’s possible with 3D printing and biodegradable materials.
Created by Amsterdam-based designer Aga Blonska and developed in partnership with the Dutch innovation lab 3D Makers Zone, Nuevo Alta is printed entirely from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)—a family of naturally occurring polymers produced by microbes. Unlike traditional bioplastics like PLA, which only degrade under specific industrial conditions, PHA breaks down in any natural environment, from soil to seawater. Yes, even in a backyard compost pile.
But the real breakthrough? This is the first time a 100% PHA filament has been used to 3D print an object of this size, complexity, and aesthetic refinement.
3D Printing Meets Nature’s Blueprint
The team at Haarlem-based 3D Makers Zone developed custom settings and environmental controls to print with the sensitive PHA material. Known for its tendency to warp and its lower thermal stability, PHA isn’t the easiest material to work with. But with fine-tuned temperature management and moisture control, the team achieved a seamless, high-resolution finish that elevates the material’s organic feel.
“Working with PHA pushes the boundaries of what we expect from sustainable manufacturing,” said a spokesperson for 3D Makers Zone. “You’re not just replacing plastic—you’re rethinking the entire lifecycle of a product.”
A Design Rooted in the Natural Cycle
Nuevo Alta’s form draws from the concept of fermentation—a biological process that turns leftovers into life. Just as food scraps nourish the soil and help create new matter, this lamp stands as a metaphor for renewal. It asks a quietly radical question: What if our waste could become our future?
“For me, it’s about storytelling,” explains Aga Blonska. “Nothing in nature really dies. What’s left behind is always feeding something else—microbes, plants, ideas. That’s what I wanted this piece to express.”
The lighting fixture isn’t just decorative—it’s philosophical. It invites viewers to consider the end-of-life of the objects they bring into their homes, and challenges them to rethink their connection to natural processes.
A Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
Nuevo Alta is also a case study in what happens when the right people come together. Rotterdam-based Studio Simone van Es played a central role in bringing the project to life—connecting designers, engineers, and funders, and ensuring that the vision stayed both ambitious and grounded.
“This wasn’t just about making a beautiful object,” said Simone van Es. “It was about proving that sustainable design doesn’t have to compromise on aesthetics or technical innovation. The goal was to create something that feels alive, both in form and philosophy.”
Lighting the Way Forward
As calls for greener production methods grow louder, Nuevo Alta offers a glimpse into how additive manufacturing can lead the way. By combining cutting-edge 3D printing with materials that return to nature, it shifts the narrative from mass consumption to mindful creation.
This is more than just a lamp. It’s a signal—a beacon—of how design, technology, and sustainability can coexist.
About the Team
Aga Blonska Studio is known for its material-driven, conceptual approach to design. Her work often explores themes of transformation, ecology, and the poetic nature of objects.
3D Makers Zone, based in Haarlem, specializes in pioneering applications of additive manufacturing, bridging the gap between innovation and real-world implementation.
Studio Simone van Es, based in Rotterdam, serves as a strategic and creative hub for cross-sector collaboration in sustainable innovation.