Mastery of Suspension

THREE LIGHTING SYSTEMS BY TOP DESIGNERS TAKE ILLUMINATION TO NEW TECHNICAL AND VISUAL HEIGHTS

MILANA BY MARSET

Barcelona-based designer Jaume Ramírez devised a pulley and counterweight system to bring literal movement to his modular suspension lamps for Marset: The lights can be moved up, down and sideways as needed. Furthermore, the cylindrical LED base with built-in lens can be left unadorned to direct illumination straight downward or paired with one of the various conical shades available to diffuse the glow in a more ambient manner. Bases and shades are offered in black and oyster white. marset.com

BELT BY FLOS

An intriguing prototype presented by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec at Salone del Mobile earlier this year, Belt is a combination of elements with the potential to redefine suspension systems. Strips of super-thin leather – some pliable, some inflexible – distribute either light, weight or electricity. The supporting strips are suspended from the ceiling (or anchored to the floor), then threaded with horizontal or curved elements and secured together with buckles, enabling the arrangements to rise, fall and rotate through a space as desired. flos.com

74 BY BOCCI

In Omer Arbel’s unique take on conventional track lighting, a web of barely discernible polarized cables forms the basis for a system of LED spotlights that affix to the wires via magnetic attachments. The lights themselves are contained in spheres of spun metal and mirrored cast glass, with lenses specially formulated in a vacuum to produce a gradient coating that transitions from clear glass to a metallic finish that matches the casings. Anchored at various points in a room, the wires can criss-cross trajectories, lending the resulting installations a magical, alien-like appeal. bocci.ca