Manooi teams up with Swarovski
(UK) - The new collection is all about four models, assembled with high quality raw materials, such as Swarovski crystal, in such a way that each and every one of their exclusive items includes thousands of crystal pendants all assembled manually at their own workshop.
Fjord is a vibrating waterfall of crystal, sparkling and illuminating the staircases and atriums in which it is installed. Used independently, or as part of a group installation, Fjord dazzles the eye of the beholder. The length of the Fjord in the photo is 270 cm. It is made of 75% of Bordeaux and 25% of Lilac Swarovski Elements crystals and pendants that surely dazzle the eye of the beholder.
Blom & Blom announces new designs
(Netherlands) - Blom & Blom have announced the launch of their own designs under the name ‘Blom & Blom Editions’, this is the latest adventure in the brothers’ continuing fascination with the beauty of industrial artefacts.
Martijn Blom explains, “During our exploration of abandoned factories, we’ve run across objects and materials that have incredible potential beyond their intended purpose. Our new line gives us the chance to reveal their uniqueness from a whole new perspective.” His brother Kamiel adds, “For example, our Jellyfish lamp is made from laboratory glass which has extraordinary physical qualities that also happen to work beautifully with light. Or, our Fox lamps made from huge wooden platforms. After discovering the natural artwork hidden within the wood, we couldn’t wait to do something with this very special material.”
Artemide launches the nh1217 in collaboration with Neri&Hu
(China) - Artemide, announce the launch of nh1217: a special edition light made in collaboration with Neri&Hu. continuing its partnership with the Chinese design firm - founded by architects Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu - which began with the launch of the highly-anticipated Yanzi collection at this year's Milan Design Week.
nh1217 is an elegant yet practical appliance that can be used as a table lamp or suspended as a wall lamp. A white blown glass sphere slides along a brushed brass ring, which allows it to take different positions and to freely adjust and direct the diffuser. The frame becomes a support or can be adjusted to act like a hook to hang from a wall.
In line with all of Neri&Hu's projects, nh1217 offers a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional Far Eastern design, with the white blown glass sphere reminiscent of traditional Chinese lanterns. nh1217 is a versatile light which can be used to illuminate a variety of contexts in a simple and poetic manner.
Plumen announces partnership with Pantone
(UK) - Plumen and Pantone have launched six pendants, designed to fit Plumen's range of LED filament bulbs, WattNott.
Pantone hit the scene in 1963 with a colour system for professional designers, helping sync many a designer’s intention with their resulting print and product. It made the world of colours a better place. Since then, Pantone has transformed into a global consumer brand – engaging people the world over with everything from mugs and keyboards to cafes and hotels. And now it’s the turn of lighting to encounter its’ colourful calibration.
"We're very proud to be working with a brand so well renowned, that was built by challenging and improving an age-old, broken system, bringing some well-honed colour into lives, as we bring in light." Nik Roope, Plumen Co-Founder and Creative Director.
Chris & Sophie Miller
Skinflint was founded by husband and wife team Chris and Sophie Miller. The first time they met, Chris tried to convince Sophie to sell him a set of opaline pendant lights she had rescued from a condemned Victorian hospital (she said no). With Chris’s background in lighting design and Sophie’s background in art direction they combined their skillsets and love of travel into salvaging and restoring beautiful, long forgotten lights.
Sophie grew up between London and Cambridge, with an architect father, so design was always central to their family life, as she explains:“I studied fine art at Central St Martins College and graduated in the mid 90’s. I’ve always been a creator and I’ve always ignored the divisions between things. When I was studying fine art I was also doing film - lighting is integral to both so for me painting, drawing, set design, collecting and restoring beautiful things is just part of the same picture, you can paint with light, create with it. You can instantly change the mood of a room with light.”
After graduating Sophie worked in film and television as an art director, buyer and stylist on music videos, BAFTA winning BBC dramas and commercials for brands such as VW and Christian Louboutin.
“I worked constantly for about seven years on a really wide range of projects,” she continues. “I decided to move on from the industry because I wanted a better work/life balance, which working in film didn’t afford me. I still wanted to work creatively and I have always collected lovely objects - when Chris and I were younger and backpacking around India we carried home this very beautiful and very heavy electric fan in bits in our rucksack, we just knew we wanted to combine our skills and love of design.”
Chris Miller trained as a product designer at Sheffield University before working as a lighting designer for Isometrix Lighting and Design and iGuzzini UK.
In 2007, while working as lighting design consultants Sophie and Chris were asked to pitch for a residential project in Primrose Hill, one of the most exclusive and expensive residential areas in London. “We were very small at that point, we didn’t have the store we have now and we were up against some big names, so honestly we didn’t think anything would come of it,” says Sophie. “We got the job and the owners insisted that every light sourced should be an original, reclaimed vintage light.”
This lead to an 18-month hunt that spanned the UK, finding the right pieces to complement the project’s architecture and design. “We built up a lot of contacts and sourced a lot of lights. That project really extended our knowledge base. It was a natural progression for us and combined both of our passions. We’re also very passionate about the environment. The ethos of everything being reclaimed, recycled and reused is really important to us.”
Through the myriad of contacts the duo have built up over the years, lights often to come to them. “People will contact us when they’re refurbishing a space, when they get round to taking out all of the old lighting they’ll call us and let us know they are available,” Sophie explains.
Their latest salvage is from a church in Surrey, England. Dating back to 1925 the lights were installed when the church was first electrified. A central part of the community, it is highly likely that the church was one of the first buildings in that area to have electricity.
Their search for light has taken them all over Europe, to factories, hospitals, schools and even abandoned asylums.
“We didn’t manage to salvage any lights from there but we took a look around Bodmin Mental Asylum before it was demolished, it was fascinating finding out the history of the building. People would be transported from the courthouse where they were convicted of their supposed mental disease in an underground tunnel that ran into the Asylum. It was a really eerie place, patients were segregated in wards named after the areas they came from because the Victorians believed that mental illness travelled in the air.”
The designer’s latest line of restored oxide lights hail from the old Rolls Royce factory in Derby. “That was a pretty special salvage,” Sophie enthuses. “It’s so much a part of our heritage and it was a really interesting collection of lights. There was such a wide cross section of lights from a single site, outdoor shades, bulkhead lights and indoor shades. The quality of the lights was amazing. People used to invest a lot more into lighting than they do now and that has a lot to do with mass production, the lights we salvage tend to come from the 1920’s and stop somewhere between the 60’s and 70’s once value engineering stepped in. These lights have outlived the buildings they were initially intended for.”
Iconic vintage lighting brands such as Revo, Holophane, Benjamin Electric and G.E.C have all been restored to meet modern standards and found a new lease of life in a wide array of contemporary hospitality and residential projects thanks to Skinflint.
The needs of the lights vary, each one is individually assessed and their path through the restoration process is carefully planned and a schedule of works is drawn up for each one. The out-dated wiring and old components are removed and safely recycled then replaced with new fittings, Lamp size is taken into consideration and in order for them to fit a modern lump and illuminate from the specific point the original makers had in mind, a lamp holder is installed which places the lamp precisely at the right point for the fixture. The rest of the parts are sent to a subcontractor who may be aqua or soda blasting, polishing, linishing, oxidising, waxing, sealing or powder coating depending on the needs of the light.
The parts are then returned to the workshop, reassembled, tested and photographed by the team, ready to be sold on the website and used in residential or commercial projects such as Padella in Borough Market.
“That was one of my favourite projects we’ve worked on,” says Sophie. “They opted for the Opaline Czech pendants from the 1950’s and personalised them with their own logo, they’re such beautiful and timeless products. It was a nice marriage of the old and new.”
So what’s next for Skinflint Design?
“We’re working on next year’s spring/summer collection which will be very exciting and a bit different to anything we’ve done before and we have some beautiful cut glassware coming, which I’m very interested in at the moment. We’re always learning about new lights, researching their history, and working out different ways we can treat the metal or preserve it. It’s an on-going learning experience.
Deisgn LSM complete Cinnamon Kitchen, Oxford
(UK) - DesignLSM have recently completed the interior work on the launch of Cinnamon Kitchen, Oxford.
The new 114-cover restaurant forms part of The Cinnamon Collection by renowned Indian chef Vivek Singh, which includes contemporary Indian restaurants The Cinnamon Club, Cinnamon Soho and Cinnamon Bazaar.
Following the success of the flagship restaurant in London, DesignLSM were asked to help create a sister offering for the brand, which will be their first site opening outside of the capital. Located in ‘The Rooftop Gardens’ within the new Westgate shopping centre, the restaurant offers a relaxed all-day dining destination featuring a striking outdoor garden terrace, which allows diners to take in resplendent views of the City’s famous spires.
The overall interior scheme combines a contemporary and paired back aesthetic with subtle elements reflecting the intricacy and elegance of Indian architecture. The restaurant conveys a sophisticated palette of materials and colours - featuring decorative whitewashed wall paneling, bespoke pendant lighting and luxurious marble finishes; harmonizing together to create a refined ambience that strongly reflects the ethos of the Cinnamon brand. A focal feature in the space is the impressive bar, which has been designed with authentic rattan panels complimented by opulent tones of marble and brass. Framing the space is a vibrant array of green 'beetle' style seating, creating a social and inviting setting for patrons to enjoy pre & post dinner cocktails.
A dedicated chef’s table set across from the open kitchen allows diners to be captivated by the experiential and innovative menu that Vivek has created. The semi-private dining area known as the ‘Pagoda’ has been specially designed with bespoke brass cut screens to offer an intimate dining space suitable for meetings and private functions; in contrast, the outside terrace conjures the exotic essence of an Indian garden with exquisite arrays of rich greenery and relaxed alfresco furniture. The restaurant frontage has a striking presence enticing shoppers in with its sumptuous and vibrant façade.
Liceo Musicale Passaglia, Italy
Martinelli Luce took part in the restoration of one of the most fascinating historic complexes in Lucca, the former Convent of Sant Agostino, now Liceo Musicale Passaglia, a high school specialising in musical studies.
Emiliana Martinelli and Marco Ghilarducci designed an innovative lighting project which respects the historical environment whilst also offering students and teachers spaces where the light integrates perfectly with the structure. The lights chosen include the linear set system and the Calabrone suspended lights for the classrooms, the Lunaop and Luna for the common areas, the impressive Koka for the music rooms and circular for the other educational areas. The aim of the design was to improve the static safety of the building in case of seismic events, complying in full with the most advanced criteria for energy efficiency and the use of environmentally friendly materials, at the same time recovering the historic architectural elements that had been lost over the years.
All work was carried out in observance of the original 14th century structure of the complex by combing the restoration techniques with safety and energy efficiency.
Nulty creates lighting scheme for Yauchatcha in Houston
(USA) - Nulty has worked alongside interior design firm GBRH to create a dramatic lighting design concept for Yauatcha in Houston.
Set in the Galleria shopping mall in the Uptown district of the city, the lighting is consistent with the restaurant’s principles and tailored to the nature of the space. A large glass facade greets guests upon arrival and acts as a picture window into the restaurant. Integrated lighting picks up and highlights a branded lattice effect, which frames the facade and utilises the brands signature blue.
The lighting scheme is designed to mirror the London branches of the chain, with lighting levels kept low and contrast ratios set high to add a sense of drama, whilst ensuring an intimate dining experience for guests. Key brand elements such as a sparkling fibre optic starry ceiling, are featured alongside small illuminated brass crosses integrated within the brick walls. Upon entering the reception area large feature pendants punctuate the space and highlight the concierge desk, whilst creating an incandescent glow to the surrounding space. A large glass fish tank is back lit, showcasing the brands signature colours and high level cove lighting washes down the marble wall highlighting the texture. Integrated lighting is used within a patisserie display that runs alongside the reception and is illuminated with layers of soft light to draw attention to the famous Yauatcha pastries for sale.
A large open dim sum kitchen sits towards the rear the restaurant and is illuminated with a higher level of light to reinforce the 'theatre' and draw guests focus to the specialist food being prepared. Clusters of bone white ceramic pendants are hung above tables and further enhance the sleek style of the interior, whilst creating narrow beams of soft light that graze the tables below. A bar area features narrow beam downlights that are positioned above the bench to draw focus onto the diners plates as they eat.
A large outdoor terrace is illuminated with layers of soft white light to create a calm and relaxed environment for diners. Lighting integrated into planters and foliage reinforces the outside dining element and uplighting used on stone columns punctuates the space and frames the border of the terrace creating a halo of light. An eye catching corner window installation visible from the outside has a projected flowing water effect that catches peoples attention and creates further interest.
Phillip Copland, Senior Lighting Designer at Nulty says, “The lighting for Yauatcha Houston helps celebrate the Yauatcha Brand in the USA, the lighting creates a memorable and unique dinning experience at the heart of the busy Galleria shopping destination”.
Yauatcha Houston is the third restaurant in the Hakkasan group that Nulty has completed work on, the others being Yauatcha City in Broadgate Circle, London and Ling Ling, in Oslo.
dpa lighting wins Lighting Design Consultancy of the Year
dpa lighting won lighting Design Consultancy of the Year at this year’s Middle East Consultant Awards held at the Ritz Carlton on the 7th November 2017.
The Middle East Consultant Awards 2017 stated that this award “recognises the innovation and achievements seen in the industry, rewarding outstanding individuals and companies across the region. Lighting design is a key part of modern projects, and this award honours the consultant that has delivered distinctive and impressive lighting across several projects".
www.dpalighting.com
Occhio introduces new colours and finishes
(Germany) - Warm materials are making a big comeback in interior design. In combination with linear design, Occhio is responding to the trend in a wonderfully elegant way.
The new rose gold and bronze finishes are now available on all Occhio luminaire and spotlight ranges and set exciting, beautiful accents. Bronze and rose gold are produced using a complex PVD process for maximum durability.
The gold matt finish has now been extended to all product ranges. When combined with black or matt white, the silky feel has a fascinating effect and brings the room to life with subtle light reflections.
The matt white or soft touch finishes are now available for all of Occhio’s luminaire and spotlight ranges and enable holistic interior design. With their simple elegance and uncompromising design, pure black and pure white complement any interior and make a bold statement.
All the new colours and materials are available from retailers now.
VISO’s new thin LED launches at Downtown Dubai
(Canada) - An update on the popular Thin suspension, the new alternative version of the fixture comes in a variety of metallic finishes with an improved LED source.
The design is available with a mirror chrome, gold or copper finish and custom canopies and custom colour gels are available.
Designed by VISO Head Designer, Filipe Lisboa, the Thin LED is designed to offer a traditional fluorescent look without the harsh UV rays. It requires zero-maintenance, meaning that you don’t need to worry about changing the lamp.
The integral LED is energy efficient and gives off an even glow of 3000k.
The fixture can be hung horizontally and vertically offering a wide range of cluster options and design variations, perfect for many commercial or residential applications. The Thin LED has dual dimming capabilities for either a 0-10V or TRIAC/ELV dimming system.
Environmentally friendly and certified for all worldwide electrical standards, the LED Thin is perfect for any eye-catching decorative lighting installations and functional projects.
The new LED Thin will be available January 2018.
Film and Furniture launches new curated marketplace
(UK) - Film and Furniture which has been nominated two years in a row for ‘Best Design Inspiration’ in the Amara Interior Blog Awards - re-launches its website, featuring a stunning new curated marketplace and positions itself as the definitive online resource to read behind-the-scenes features and buy the furniture and décor you spot in the movies.
The new website launches with a series of stronger brand partnerships so readers can buy the products featured with the click of a mouse via the stunning, carefully curated marketplace.
The highly visual site not only looks smarter and slicker - it has a much-improved user experience. Search by film title and you will be presented with items available to buy within that film including decorative lighting pieces. Importantly, for those wishing to delve deeper into the stories around those items, relevant indepth features published on that film are presented right below. Click on a particular film director and the site will reconfigure to gather all the films and products relating to them.
