Illumination
Constructed with curved forms and highly mobile joints, these lamps convey a strong sense of motion
Kinetic lighting pieces that will make dynamic additions to your home
On occasion, a lamp imbued with a strong kinetic form may appear to sway and twirl in the breeze. Recent advancements in LED technology have enabled lighting designers to experiment with malleable materials such as aluminium, silicone, thermoplastic and bamboo to create lamps with dynamic forms and graceful arches. From reedlike floor lamps to task lighting with anthropomorphic shapes, here are some of our favourite designs. ACROBATIC FEAT The iconic Mobile chandelier collection, created by Michael Anastassiades for his namesake brand, marries light and motion in sculptural chandeliers with mouth-blown, opaline bulbs set on the ends of slender rods. The delicate-looking patinated brass rods of the lamps curve and roll to form acrobatic silhouettes; some models appear in forms akin to the trapezes found in a circus. PERFECT GEOMETRY The brainchild of Helsinki-based designer Arihiro Miyake for Nemo, the Kepler pendant lamp is based on the mathematics of the Möbius strips and appears like a ribbon gently swirling in mid-air. Made of epoxycoated aluminium that’s twisted using a three-dimensional deformation process, this sleek lamp has a futuristic appeal, and complements modern and minimalist interiors beautifully.
ARCH OF TRIUMPH The Pole collection, designed by Philippe Malouin for Roll & Hill, consists of supple, rod-like light sources that can be configured in multiple ways to create illuminated arcs on the floors, walls and ceilings of your home. With a body made of aluminium, stainless steel and silicon, these modular lamps can be used to create giant, sculptural curves, and work particularly well in highceilinged rooms. PLAYFUL TWIST The Uto collection from Foscarini comprises LED table and suspension lamps with serpentine bodies made of thermoplastic elastomer and polycarbonate. The work of Lagranja Design, headquartered in Barcelona, the illuminated heads of Uto lamps can be positioned in almost any direction. Whether used indoors or outdoors, the lamps can be configured as pendants, wall or ceiling lamps, or even slung over a tree branch.
THE GENTLE MOVEMENTS OF THESE LIGHTING PIECES ADD A POETIC TOUCH TO YOUR INTERIOR, WHILE DIRECTING LIGHT WHERE IT’S NEEDED
UP THE WALL With its supple form, the Wirering lamp from Flos looks like a snail crawling up a wall. Designed by Amsterdambased designers Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin of Studio Formafantasma, the lamp’s electrical cable is transformed into the main showpiece, which transmits electricity to the metal ring via electrical connectors. This wall light is composed of two elements: a calendered, extruded aluminium ring containing an LED strip, and a belt-like rubber cable. ON THE MOVE The limited-edition Arthropod lamp by Beirut designer Ghassan Salameh look like it would fit right in with the androids in Star Wars. Built with highly mobile joints, the lamp resembles a robot advancing in the direction of the area that it illuminates. Its legs are made of either raw iron, gold brass, red copper or polished stainless steel, and attached together by multidirectional, hand-milled hinges along the axles; each joint can rotate in four different angles to direct light where it’s needed. BOTANICAL GLOW Created by South Korean designer Sangyoon Kim of Listen Communication, the Moon Orchid lamp could easily be mistaken for a house plant; its LED light source is attached to a strip of bamboo that hangs off a ceramic pot. Kim, who designed this lamp as an orchid in the shape of a crescent moon, was inspired by a Korean poem that speaks of “fishing on the moon and plowing in the cloud”. FLIGHT OF FANCY Like a bird about to swoop down on its quarry, the Lutz lamp from Oluce is the eponymous creation of Portuguese designer Lutz Pankow. The streamlined form of this table lamp composed of two dynamic lines, with an LED head and articulated joints that allow the head to rotate 360 degrees with great ease and flexibility.
DELICATE BALANCE Created by Tokyo-based designer Shoichi Uchiyama for Louis Poulsen, the Enigma 545 pendant lamp comprises concentric circles that create an illusion of a floating light source. Using matte-finished acrylic to create ideal light distribution, the lamp emits a soft glow. “I want people to feel various aspects of beauty from the floating and expressive shades, which look different depending on where and when they are used, or the angle from which they are seen,” says Uchiyama. PLASTIC PRESENCE Designed by Umberto Asnago for Penta, the Taac floor lamp features a gently curving arch resting on a black rotatable base. This minimalist lamp can swing in any direction to accurately emit light within its illuminating parameters. Taac is available in glossy white or black thermoplastic; it’s also available in six different leather finishings.