Pluma Cubic
Heike Buchfelder began experimenting with feathers in the early 2000s. The Berlin architect was fascinated by the multifaceted nature of this material and its almost inexhaustible wealth of meaning. In her archaic-looking objects, she revealed the tensions inherent in this material: hard and soft, alive and ephemeral, simple and exotic. For her first solo exhibition, she designed an installation with illuminated feathered creatures, which enjoyed a great positive response and led to the founding of her design label pluma cubic in 2005.
Since then, pluma cubic has been synonymous with idiosyncratic light objects that capture the beauty of this natural material in sculptural forms.
The pluma cubic collection includes small handmade series and unique pieces. Depending on the model, anywhere between 250 and 4000 specially selected goose and rooster feathers are individually pierced through the cotton covering of the lampshades – also designed by pluma cubic – by hand in a slow, meditative process. The textile surface separates the morbid, spiny quills on one side from the beautiful, delicate plumes of feathers on the other, with the interwoven placement of the feathers creating a flower-like shape. The result is opulent light fixtures with a sensual presence.
pluma cubic only uses feathers from domestic geese and chickens that are a by-product of food production and are recycled and processed by the decorative feather industry. They are cleaned according to veterinary standards and sorted by hand.
The lights are manufactured by carefully chosen craft workshops in the Berlin area. Due to the long-term relationship with these production facilities, pluma cubic is able to offer bespoke items. This also includes tailored solutions for the electrical fittings. Clients include private individuals and collectors as well as restaurants and hotels.
Heike Buchfelder
As a designer, Heike Buchfelder has been experimenting with materials since completing her architectural studies at the Berlin University of the Arts. In 2025, she will embark on a new direction with her work and rebrand her label, pluma cubic. She initially chose the name to represent her signature lighting collection, which was crafted from goose and rooster feathers. Moving forward, she plans to present all her creations under her own name, Heike Buchfelder.
Her Her work is guided by a fascination for materials’ versatility and a penchant for crafting them into unexpected compositions. To this day, she continues to investigate each of her chosen materials, including feathers, metal, glass and paper, from new perspectives. By looking far beyond the constraints of their traditionally intended functions and exploring their further potential, her resulting objects break exciting ground in the world of contemporary craft and design. Her current work delves into diverse color compositions on Shoji paper. Her collections comprise a combination of an exclusive handmade series and unique pieces.
Heike Buchfelder’s work has been featured at numerous international venues, including the Museum Marta Herford in Germany, the Winterthur Trade Museum in Switzerland, Moss in New York, USA, and FWR | FeldbuschWiesnerRudolph Galerie in Berlin, Germany.
In 2021, she founded the collective MATTER of COURSE together with eleven other Berlin-based designers, which is driven by the idea of using unique objects and work at the intersection of design, craft, art and industry to generate cultural value. As a creative community, MATTER of COURSE is committed to the conscious use of materials, high-quality workmanship and contemporary design on a local and international level. More information can be found here: MATTERofCOURSE
Selected Exhibitions
– Movimento Gallery, The Blue Flower, Villa Olmo, Lake Como Design Festival, Como
– Movimento Gallery, Merging and Emerging, Milan Designweek, Milan
– 5VIE, ICH und DU, curated by Anava Projects, supported by Dr. Hauschka, Milan Designweek, Milan
– Friends Space, BALANCING ACTS with MATTERofCOURSE, curated by Anava Projects, Berlin
– FeldbuschWiesnerRudolph, Art Gallery, Creative intersections between Sculpture and Design, Berlin
– Museum of Arts and Crafts Winterthur, Federn – wärmen, verführen, fliegen Multifunctionality of the feather and its current meaning in design, art and pop culture, Winterthur
– Aptm, German design, what is that?, Berlin/ Brunnen190, Berlin
– Projektraum Brunnen190, Contemporary Design, Berlin
– SELECTED GRAZ Out of the frame, Neue Galerie, Graz
– Palazzo Michiel, Venice Design, Venedig
– ICFF New York + Deutscher Pavillon at Beijing Design Week Handmade in Germany World Tour
– Biennale Interieur, THE WALL- Nieuwe German Gestaltung #004, Kortrijk curated by Max Borka
– Diet Gallery, AUS BERLIN, Design Miami District, Miami
– Ventura Lambrate + Design Festival Berlin INSTANT STORIES BERLIN, Berlin, Milan
– IMM Cologne, THE BLACK BATH Living Spaces, Cologne
– Gallery Yasmine Benhadj-Djiali, OFF CUT, Berlin- Seoul Design Fair, Overseas Design, Seoul
– Metropolitan Design Center, Material Issues, Buenos Aires
– MARTa Museum, Nullpunkt. Nieuwe German Gestaltung, curated by Max Borka, Herford
– Temporäre Kunsthalle Berlin, 20 Jahre Kreativmetropole Berlin, Berlin
– Made in Berlin at Salone del Mobile, Milan and Berlin Design Week
– Draywalk Gallery, London
– Shanghai Int. Creative Industry Week (SICIW), Creative Spree, Shanghai
– RED Moscow, Best of Berlin, Moskow
– MOSS Gallery, Never Felt Before – Claudy Jongstra x Heike Buchfelder, New York
– ARTORT, Köln