White plastic bubbles still dominate many homes – this is how Eero Aarnio’s iconic Double Bubble lamp was born

In Riihimäki, a small family company has been manufactured in Finland’s most famous lamp for over 20 years.

The double bubble is a white luminaire moulded in polyethylene. It is manufactured by Melaja oy using the rotational moulding technique, where the mould is slowly rotated in a furnace.

Now more than one third of the net sales of Melojaja’s over one million euros comes from the manufacture and sales of Aarnio’s lamps. These share the company’s turnover in different years at 30-40 %.

Through the online store, Aarnio’s lamps are spreading throughout Europe. The design language of the designer, in particular, seems to touch Swedish, German and Dutch.

Failure forced to change the material

Originally, Eero Aarnio’s idea was to create an exciting glass sculpture of two special bubbles.

The woman presents the first prototype of the Double Bubble Lamp in Eero Aarnio's office. — Eero Aarnio’s daughter Marjukka Törmi has the first glass version of the Double Bubble. It remained a crude piece, which did not satisfy the designer.

– The mold broke down during blowing. Only four sculptures were born of different colors, Marjukka Törmi recalls.

Eero Aarnio began to wonder if the sculpture could be made. The idea got more impetus, especially as LED technology developed.

*In the video below, Marjukka bumps show what the first double bubble made of glass was.*

Aarnio changed the material to plastic.

He found a family business in Riihimäki, specializing in rotation casting technology. It fit perfectly for the needs of the luminaire.

A strange shape glowing with white light

In rotation casting, the mold is slowly rotated in the oven, causing the plastic to melt on its inner surface.

A person sitting at the table with a large white shimmering design lamp. In the background you will see more design items and award letters on the wall. — Petri Meloja is running a family business in the second generation. There are almost thirty different lamps designed by Aarnio. The latest is the hand behind, named the Hello lamp.

The double bubble was born quickly.

Soon it was introduced at Eero Aarnio’s 50th anniversary exhibition at the Art Hall. The luminaire has been in Melaja’s own production ever since. Eero Aarnio receives a contribution to the manufacturer, Royalty.

Over the years, the luminaire has captured more and more homes and has become one of Aarnio’s most famous work.

The double bubble is by far the most successful lamp.

– People don’t go buy a lamp because they need light. They buy a luminaire designed by Eero Aarnio because they want the lamp, says Petri Melja.

Approximately 5,000 Aarnio lamps are made every year in Riihimäki.

Aarnio’s luminaires stand the test of time

The shape of the double bubble has remained almost unchanged, but it has been scaled to different sizes from giant to smaller S-size.

Marjukka Törmi believes that the secret of the popularity of the luminaire is its sympathetic form. It pleases the viewer while creating a pleasant lighting.

The person accurately cuts the plastic surface with hand tools.

Melaja Oy is not well known as the manufacturer of luminaires.

– We have originally used the name of Eero Aarnio and not our own name, Petri Meloja laughs.

92-year-old Eero Aarnio is no longer planning, but it is believed that the cooperation with the Aarnio family business will continue. Petri Meloja also states that there are other talented designers in Finland, with whom you can outline the future.

And in the archives of Eero Aarnio, there are still numerous drawing ideas that can be refined.