Schoolhouse Teams up with New York Studio Roll & Hill for a ‘70’s-Inspired Lighting Collection
When Schoolhouse partners with what we’ve previously called “Brooklyn’s most-loved lighting studio,” we’re all ears. New York-based Roll & Hill, founded by creative director Jason Miller, has been crafting elegant, industrial lighting fixtures since 2010, and—as of today—they’ve paired up with Portland brand Schoolhouse for the release of four design-forward lighting pieces.
Schoolhouse’s lighting options have made their impression on AD for some time, and the Bento collection is a natural extension of the playful designs they’re known for, infused with the elegance typical of Roll & Hill’s catalog. “Schoolhouse is known for its contemporary take on industrial forms, while Roll & Hill is known for elegant, modern designs,” as Miller previously stated. “We wanted to make something that felt right in the Schoolhouse collection but refined in a way that is typical of Roll & Hill.”
As many great ideas do, the collaboration began with a meeting of minds over coffee, when Miller and the former Schoolhouse CEO Alex Bellos bonded over their love of good design. The pair share a similar ethos when it comes to approaching bespoke designs for a US market: modern silhouettes, colorful palettes, and industrialism infused with an unexpected element of playfulness.
This collection exemplifies those ideals, integrating Corbusier’s midcentury penchant for modern materials, sharp geometry, and his trademark “architectural polychromy”—a 63-color approach to harmonious design—with Donald Judd’s vibrant 1970s palette. “The colors of those Donald Judd pieces feel completely contemporary to us today and relevant,” Miller says, referencing the olives, muted reds, butterscotch yellows, and ecrus that define the collection.
And as the name implies, the Roll & Hill team looked to vintage Japanese chrome bento boxes to inform the modular metal shades seen in each design. Each industrial metal piece maintains the object’s utility while chromatic plating enhances its aesthetics.
The chandelier is a notable highlight: a rectangular fixture, variegated with six colors—both light and dark—is framed by warm oak and polished off with reeded glass for ambient warmth. It looks similar to the fragmented, vibrant colors and industrial framework of Unite d’Habitation, an apartment building designed by Corbusier in Marseilles.
The Bento collection reimagines classic design in an anachronistic way—the geometric silhouettes, chrome, Pennsylvania oak, and matte-painted steel boxes could feel right at home in a modern showroom or a ’70s-inspired home. Regardless if those spaces describe yours, the collection looks at home in all interiors—from coastal, to country, to contemporary. You can shop all four variations at Schoolhouse today.
