Inspired by Etienne-Louis Boullée’s visionary Cenotaph for Newton—a monumental, neoclassical design conceived in the 18th century to honor the intellectual legacy of Sir Isaac Newton—this piece endeavors to channel the same spirit of transcendence and contemplation. Boullée’s cenotaph was an audacious architectural concept, marked by its colossal scale and geometric purity, intended to evoke a sense of sublime reflection and timelessness. In homage to this visionary, my design takes users on a symbolic journey from the remnants of the past to the possibilities of the future, merging historical reverence with contemporary functionality.

Crafted from Jesmonite, the base of the piece echoes the neoclassical elegance of Boullée’s era with its clean, geometric lines. The hand-blown glass sphere and combustion tube, both temperature-resistant, further enhance its ethereal quality. The piece features a stainless steel fuel container that ensures the wick burns consistently, allowing it to serve as both a mystical ritual object and a contemporary oil lamp. Users are invited to release their worries by writing them on paper and setting them alight within the vessel, embracing a ritual of transformation and renewal. This interplay of past and present not only honors Boullée’s architectural innovation but also creates a space for personal introspection and cathartic release.