Experimenting With Lights: 6 Top Trends at Euroluce 2017
Forget classic chandeliers and lampshades. This year, it’s all about modular, minimalist and shape-changing designs
While this year’s Salone del Mobile in Milan focused on classic furniture, the lighting brands presenting at its fair-within-a-fair, Euroluce, had fun with experimentation. Thanks to LEDs and other new technology, designers are now able to change the shapes and even the uses of light fixtures, and the exhibitors at this year’s fair ran with their newfound freedom. Have you ever wanted to play with your lamp or change it to suit your mood? Now you can. Get ready for modern light pillars, customizable lamps and minimalist chandeliers.
U-Light by Timo Ripatti for Axo Light
2. Going Graphic
Pure lines, signs hanging from the ceiling, tiny waves on the wall — designers are transforming classic lamps into minimalist sculptures.
Thanks to LED technology, lamps can now have a light source anywhere, even bent around a curve. For example, U-Light, by Finnish designer Timo Ripatti for Axo Light, incorporates an LED into a series of circular aluminum frames.
2. Going Graphic
Pure lines, signs hanging from the ceiling, tiny waves on the wall — designers are transforming classic lamps into minimalist sculptures.
Thanks to LED technology, lamps can now have a light source anywhere, even bent around a curve. For example, U-Light, by Finnish designer Timo Ripatti for Axo Light, incorporates an LED into a series of circular aluminum frames.
Compendium Circle by Daniel Rybakken for Luceplan
Norwegian designer Daniel Rybakken also used circles in the Compendium collection he designed for Luceplan. LED technology permits the emission of both focused light, when pointed downward, and diffused light, when aimed upward. This chandelier is customizable and can be built from up to three rings of varying diameter, so you can decide on the final shape of your minimalist chandelier.
Norwegian designer Daniel Rybakken also used circles in the Compendium collection he designed for Luceplan. LED technology permits the emission of both focused light, when pointed downward, and diffused light, when aimed upward. This chandelier is customizable and can be built from up to three rings of varying diameter, so you can decide on the final shape of your minimalist chandelier.
Yanzi by Neri & Hu for Artemide
Yanzi, designed by Chinese duo Neri & Hu for Artemide, is a lightweight lamp that can either be suspended or used as a floor lamp. Its clean design invokes branches, with movable swallows sitting on top. The lamp makes it possible to create a kind of poetic domestic landscape.
Yanzi, designed by Chinese duo Neri & Hu for Artemide, is a lightweight lamp that can either be suspended or used as a floor lamp. Its clean design invokes branches, with movable swallows sitting on top. The lamp makes it possible to create a kind of poetic domestic landscape.
WireRing by Formafantasma for Flos
Where did the light source go? WireRing, by Italian design duo Formafantasma, is so thin and minimalist that it practically disappears. The lamp is a beltlike electric cable stretched over a ring containing an LED strip. That’s all. The cable itself is the main focus.
Where did the light source go? WireRing, by Italian design duo Formafantasma, is so thin and minimalist that it practically disappears. The lamp is a beltlike electric cable stretched over a ring containing an LED strip. That’s all. The cable itself is the main focus.
Heliacal by Os & Oos for FontanaArte
3. Pillars of Light
On the other end of the minimalist spectrum, floor lamps are becoming bigger and bigger, iconic — or ironic — and eye-catching.
Heliacal, by Dutch design studio Os & Oos for FontanaArte, is a good example. Inspired by the way light changes all day long between sunrise and sunset, it has polarized glass discs that can be rotated, blocking the light or allowing thin beams to escape. This introduces movement and gradation, from a dawn effect to an eclipse, into the design. It is a magical modern totem.
3. Pillars of Light
On the other end of the minimalist spectrum, floor lamps are becoming bigger and bigger, iconic — or ironic — and eye-catching.
Heliacal, by Dutch design studio Os & Oos for FontanaArte, is a good example. Inspired by the way light changes all day long between sunrise and sunset, it has polarized glass discs that can be rotated, blocking the light or allowing thin beams to escape. This introduces movement and gradation, from a dawn effect to an eclipse, into the design. It is a magical modern totem.
Pinecone by Paola Navone for FontanaArte
Originally designed to be a table lamp or a suspended fixture, Paola Navone’s Pinecone this year grew to be a floor lamp. It uses the ancient technique of caged blown glass, which creates the impression of glass — and light — trying to break out from its restraints.
Originally designed to be a table lamp or a suspended fixture, Paola Navone’s Pinecone this year grew to be a floor lamp. It uses the ancient technique of caged blown glass, which creates the impression of glass — and light — trying to break out from its restraints.
Noctambule by Konstantin Grcic for Flos
The Noctambule lamp by German designer Konstantin Grcic, made of see-through modules of cylindrical blown glass, is almost transparent during the day and reveals itself when turned on at night. The modules can be stacked on top of one another to create a customizable column of light. How high will you dare to go?
The Noctambule lamp by German designer Konstantin Grcic, made of see-through modules of cylindrical blown glass, is almost transparent during the day and reveals itself when turned on at night. The modules can be stacked on top of one another to create a customizable column of light. How high will you dare to go?
Diade by Monica Armani for Luceplan
4. Lamps That Are More Than Light
With new technology making design more flexible, lamps now do more than just dispense light. A good example is Diade, by Monica Armani for Luceplan, which integrates acoustic solutions that absorb noise (for example, over a table or in an office) and thus promote psychophysical well-being. It can also be folded (see the next picture) to separate the space below it.
4. Lamps That Are More Than Light
With new technology making design more flexible, lamps now do more than just dispense light. A good example is Diade, by Monica Armani for Luceplan, which integrates acoustic solutions that absorb noise (for example, over a table or in an office) and thus promote psychophysical well-being. It can also be folded (see the next picture) to separate the space below it.
Gaku by Nendo for Flos
5. Lamps as Playful Objects
Gaku, designed by Japanese studio Nendo for Flos, is a wood-framed, do-it-yourself decorating set that happens to also be a table light. You can play with different elements to create your own lamp. The light source can be suspended from a cable that comes out of the frame. There is also a wireless version — another current trend — in which the lamp can be recharged through induction plates.
5. Lamps as Playful Objects
Gaku, designed by Japanese studio Nendo for Flos, is a wood-framed, do-it-yourself decorating set that happens to also be a table light. You can play with different elements to create your own lamp. The light source can be suspended from a cable that comes out of the frame. There is also a wireless version — another current trend — in which the lamp can be recharged through induction plates.
Collapsible Moon by Kazuhiro Yamanaka for Pallucco
Inspired by the moon and classic photographers’ bank lights, Kazuhiro Yamanaka’s Collapsible Moon is made of a technical fabric, normally used for sports, that refracts light. The frame of the circle is made of a tempered-steel spring and can move or be folded. A color-changing LED strip diffuses light from inside the frame. The result is a fully illuminated circle, a little portable moon.
Inspired by the moon and classic photographers’ bank lights, Kazuhiro Yamanaka’s Collapsible Moon is made of a technical fabric, normally used for sports, that refracts light. The frame of the circle is made of a tempered-steel spring and can move or be folded. A color-changing LED strip diffuses light from inside the frame. The result is a fully illuminated circle, a little portable moon.
Amisol by Daniel Rybakken for Luceplan
Daniel Rybakken’s Amisol takes advantage of large dimensions. Like Collapsible Moon, it is a diffused version of a photography bank light. A translucent white film or a metallic mirror membrane is stretched inside a circular aluminum frame to create diffused light. The lamps can be pointed in any direction.
Daniel Rybakken’s Amisol takes advantage of large dimensions. Like Collapsible Moon, it is a diffused version of a photography bank light. A translucent white film or a metallic mirror membrane is stretched inside a circular aluminum frame to create diffused light. The lamps can be pointed in any direction.
Mesh by Francisco Gomez Paz for Luceplan
6. The Second (Lighter) Life of Chandeliers
What happens when designers start using LEDs in chandeliers? Design becomes fragile and poetic. Mesh, designed by Francisco Gomez Paz for Luceplan, is a light structure composed of a network of metal cables, with LEDs positioned at the intersections. It’s available with 96 light points or as a smaller suspension lamp with 48 LEDs.
6. The Second (Lighter) Life of Chandeliers
What happens when designers start using LEDs in chandeliers? Design becomes fragile and poetic. Mesh, designed by Francisco Gomez Paz for Luceplan, is a light structure composed of a network of metal cables, with LEDs positioned at the intersections. It’s available with 96 light points or as a smaller suspension lamp with 48 LEDs.
Verticale by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Flos
“Modular” is the keyword for many of the lamps presented at Euroluce 2017. Verticale, by the Bouroullec brothers of France, is a set of suspension lights of variable length that can be put together in various geometric configurations, such as a triangle or a pentagon. Their anodized aluminum frame reflects the light source.
“Modular” is the keyword for many of the lamps presented at Euroluce 2017. Verticale, by the Bouroullec brothers of France, is a set of suspension lights of variable length that can be put together in various geometric configurations, such as a triangle or a pentagon. Their anodized aluminum frame reflects the light source.
Alysoid by Ryosuke Fukusada for Axo Light
Alysoid, by Japanese designer Ryosuke Fukusada for Axo Light, is composed of necklace-like draped chains. It was inspired by architecture: The alysoid was a beloved geometric form of renowned Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí.
Alysoid, by Japanese designer Ryosuke Fukusada for Axo Light, is composed of necklace-like draped chains. It was inspired by architecture: The alysoid was a beloved geometric form of renowned Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí.
Leaf by Matteo Zorzenoni for MM Lampadari
The new shapes of chandeliers may be different from the classic versions, but they are just as eye-catching. In Leaf, Italian designer Matteo Zorzenoni tried to mix past and future. The suspended light fixture is available in brass or copper.
More
Key Trends We Spotted at Salone del Mobile 2017 in Milan
Read more stories about design around the world
The new shapes of chandeliers may be different from the classic versions, but they are just as eye-catching. In Leaf, Italian designer Matteo Zorzenoni tried to mix past and future. The suspended light fixture is available in brass or copper.
More
Key Trends We Spotted at Salone del Mobile 2017 in Milan
Read more stories about design around the world
1. Technology Meets Craft
“Lamps are not just shapes. Light is a basic human need, just like air and water. Technology is what brings us light at home, so we shouldn’t be afraid of it. Instead, we need a vision for driving lighting technology forward. In doing this, we should always have our human needs, and nothing else, in mind,” says Carlotta de Bevilacqua, architect and vice president of Italian company Artemide.
She designed the hybrid light fixture Harry H as a kind of manifesto, connecting technology and traditional craft. It combines handblown glass with OLED and LED lights. The two light sources can be controlled separately to precisely define the quality of the light the lamp emits.