Get involved in our next issue

(UK) - Have you worked on a stunning retail issue? Products been specified?

darc is looking for retail case studies featuring strong decorative lighting for the upcoming  issue, which focuses on retail lighting and is introduced by Nulty+ designer Emilio Hernandez.

Distributed heavily at Decorex, 100% Design, designjunction, London Design Fair, darc room, Interieur Belgium, Hong Kong Light Fair and Light Middle East this a key issue to be involved in.

For more information contact Emma Harris E.Harris@mondiale.co.uk

 

 


designjunction unveils launches for this year’s show

(UK) - designjunction will transform London’s South Bank this September (20-23).

Hundreds of product launches, boutique pop-up shops, installations, exhibitions, and specially curated talks programmes will be launching at this year's designjunction.

The Doon Street site, will house 200 international design brands and temporary pop up shops. The Riverside Walkway will showcase a series of outdoor installations, whilst Oxo Tower Wharf  and Bargehouse will host major brand activations, talks and exhibitions.

designjunction will also be supporting the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust (SLCT) in partnership with RIBA in a year-long campaign, which aims to raise funds and promote diversity and inclusion in the design and architecture industry. Reflecting Stephen’s desire to become an architect, ‘The Architect’s Toolkit’ intends to help SLCT inspire and enable young people from underrepresented backgrounds to study and qualify as architects.

The toolkit, created by London-based stationery brand Mark + Fold, will be a special edition of an architect’s essentials designed in collaboration with three renowned designers. Following the show and to coincide with the inaugural Stephen Lawrence Day (22 April 2019), a small run of each toolkit will go into production. A percentage of the profits made will go towards giving someone else the tools they need to start their career.

‘The Architect’s Toolkit’ project will launch at designjunction as part of a co-working space designed by award-winning, Brixton based architecture practice Squire and Partners, using acoustic panels by We Design Silence. Squire and Partners’ installation creates a highly stimulating dreamscape environment in which core design tools are unlimited, and people from all generations and backgrounds can meet, work and create together. The space will be an active feature within the show where designers will host interactive workshops and connect young designers with industry leaders.

www.thedesignjunction.co.uk


darc thoughts heads to 100% design

(UK) - 100% Design welcomes darc editor, Helen Ankers to talks programme.

darc magazine editor Helen Ankers will moderate a panel of designers working with light at this year’s 100% Design.

darc thoughts – The Magic of Illumination, will see designer Christopher Jenner and Cameron Design House’s Simeon Chilvers join Ankers to discuss the complexities and intricacies of working with light to produce the perfect fixture for an interior space.

The 100% Design talks programme will kick off with Thomas Heatherwick in conversation with Max Fraser alongside Yoo Chairman John Hitchcox,  Trevor Morris from SPAARC Architecture and Heatherwick Studio’s Eliot Postma, looking at the vision for Olympia London, which is being transformed into a arts, entertainment, event and experiential district.

Other talks during 100% Design will see Marcel Wanders, Flynn Talbot and Gensler take to the stage.

darc thoughts: The Magic of Illumination, is free to attend and will be held at The Forum  on 21 September from 12:00 – 12:30. 100% Design takes place from 19-22 September 2018.

www.100percentdesign.co.uk


Cameron Design House teams up with Geronimo

(UK) - Cameron Design House set to team up with balloon artist Geronimo.

Cameron Design House will team up with Los Angeles-based balloon artist Geronimo as part of London Design Festival 2018, to create an immersive light installation in the heart of Shoreditch.

Over the four-day event, Cameron Design House will reveal its unique Helmi chandelier alongside Geronimo’s bespoke balloon sculpture for a single explosion of colour and creativity at the Old Truman Brewery.

The Helmi takes inspiration from Founder Ian Cameron’s Finnish hometown of Turku and explores contemporary themes of contrast within the impressive urban structure. With the concept of Helmi first formed during a fishing trip in the city’s bordering Aura River, the design was developed in London after a visit to the Hayward Gallery. Meaning ‘pearl’ in Finnish, the Helmi chandelier is designed with a 24-carat gold plated, industrial net that displays a collection of exquisite glass pearls.

“It is true that light naturally draws the eye, so what holds that light should always be visually stunning,” Ian Cameron, Founder & Creative Director of Cameron House Design says. “The Helmi chandelier creates a contemporary centrepiece with contrasts in delicacy and industrial influence ensuring the design complements the architecture of any space. Carefully crafted to make a statement at any angle, the Helmi reveals subtle changes to the structure and glow of light as you walk around the room.”

Handblown in London, each glass pearl is illuminated by a single LED filament bulb and suspended in the air by tinterwoven gold chains that create the sculptural net. The subtle LED light within each pearl combines as a collective to introduce a warm, inviting ambience to the surrounding space.

Helmi will be on show from 20-23 September, 2018.

www.camerondesignhouse.com


darc room : live stream programme revealed

(UK) – darc room announces lecture programme will be streamed.

The darc room : live programme of live stream lectures has been announced. Featuring 38 speakers over the two days of the darc room exhibition, darc room : live is a series of quick-fire, 15-minute talks by leading lighting industry professionals.

Curated by creative consultants and lighting designers Light Collective, darc room : live will be able to be viewed live at darc room and on Light Collective’s YouTube channel, Light Collective TV.

Speakers include Keith Bradshaw, Speirs + Major; artist Liz West; Paul Traynor, Light Bureau; Cinzia Moretti, British Institute of Interior Design; Peter Fordham, DHA Designs; Inessa Demidova, Arup; Jonathan Rush, Hoare Lea; Marci Song, SEAM; Ben Rigby, Haberdashery, Monique Tollgard, Staffan Tollgard Design Group; and Chiara Carucci, Tengbom.

See the full programme here… https://www.darcroom.com/darc-room-live/

Paul James, darc room director, commented: “Light Collective have done an incredible job getting so many fantastic speakers on board. The format is exciting so I hope people will be able to come down to see it live as well as watching it online.”

darc room is London Design Festival’s lighting destination and features 50 exhibitors, 38 live stream talks and 8 workshops – all in a creative space with a unique exhibiting concept.

www.darcroom.com


darc room : workshops programme revealed

(UK) – darc room announces programme for free-to-attend workshops.

The darc room : workshops programme has been announced featuring eight stimulating free-to-attend sessions over the two days of the darc room exhibition.

Curated by creative consultants and lighting designers Light Collective, the darc room : workshops programme addresses the latest lighting technology topics that are hot in the lighting design profession right now. Most of the workshops will be hands-on and interactive with live demonstrations of the technologies affecting the lighting industry.

Paul James, director of darc room, commented: “I am delighted to announce darc room : workshops as part of the darc room exhibition. Light Collective has put together a sensational programme that will be hugely beneficial to the attendees and, what’s more, it’s completely free of charge! We have put a lot of effort into making the workshops part of the event. I’m extremely grateful to the industry professionals who are participating.”

The workshops are on a first come, first served basis so those that register to attend should arrive early to guarantee a space. Attendees also need to register for darc room in order to gain entry to the Nicholls & Clarke Building on Shoreditch High Street where darc room is taking place.

darc room : workshops full programme

WEDNESDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER

Ambient Communication
Tapio Rosenius, Skandal Technologies
12:00 – 18:00 (3 x 2 hour sessions)
Experience the future of digital content creation for media facades and architectural environments – straight outta Finland! With Ambient Communication, a new hybrid form of space is created, that is simultaneously digital and physical yet rooted to human biology. Skandal Technologies will bring their EC funded research findings for sharing, together with their beta level special software and sensor rig to play with.

Everything you wanted to know about LEDs* (*but were afraid to ask)
Jeremy Fielding, Atrium
12:00 – 13:00
If darc room was set in an American High School we’d call this LED 101 – using hands-on demonstrations and simple, easy to understand explanations join Jeremy Fielding on a journey through the basic concepts of colour rendering, colour temperature, flicker, dimming, consistency, spectral power distributions, control and much more – all the hot topics with live demonstrations of key elements.

Human Centric Lighting
Panel discussion featuring Dr. Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska RIBA, IALD, IES, MSLL; Mark Ridler (Director of Lighting at BDP); Rebecca Weir (Creative Director at Light IQ); Stephen Lisk (Lighting Designer and President of CIBSE) and Iain Carlile (Lighting Designer and President of the SLL)
13:30 – 15:30
Human Centric Lighting was the key buzz phrase at this year’s Light + Building – almost everyone was claiming some form of Human Centric element in their product range – but what exactly do we mean by Human Centric Lighting? Is it the ability to change colour temperature and intensity, is it a more sophisticated mapping of light over time or is it mainly a marketing bandwagon that everyone is jumping on. The biological effect of light cannot be denied and therefore the responsible use of light needs to become the cornerstone of our industry.

Control
David Kriebel, LensVector
16:00 – 17:00
Control is always at the top of the list when you ask lighting designers what they want to know more about, but now sophisticated lighting control is available to everyone one from tech-savvy designers to anyone with a smart device. darc room brings you a hands-on workshop where you can get to experience the latest Casambi Bluetooth based lighting control technology applied to LensVector dynamic beam shaping, output control and colour temperature. In this workshop, you will get to see the hardware that normally sits behind the scenes, learn how to use a simple iPhone or Android app to create group, set static scenes, and create animated scenes.

WEDNESDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER

Ambient Communication
Tapio Rosenius, Skandal Technologies
12:00 – 18:00 (3 x 2 hour sessions)
Experience the future of digital content creation for media facades and architectural environments – straight outta Finland! With Ambient Communication, a new hybrid form of space is created, that is simultaneously digital and physical yet rooted to human biology. Skandal Technologies will bring their EC funded research findings for sharing, together with their beta level special software and sensor rig to play with.

Everything you wanted to know about LEDs* (*but were afraid to ask)
Jeremy Fielding, Atrium
12:00 – 13:00
If darc room was set in an American High School we’d call this LED 101 – using hands-on demonstrations and simple, easy to understand explanations join Jeremy Fielding on a journey through the basic concepts of colour rendering, colour temperature, flicker, dimming, consistency, spectral power distributions, control and much more – all the hot topics with live demonstrations of key elements.

Connected Lighting
Francesco Anselmo, Arup
14:00 – 16:00
It’s time to get your lighting geek on! We’ve all heard of the Internet of Things and Connected Light – it’s everywhere but no-one really knows what to do with it! Francesco Anselmo will break it down for us. He’s not selling anything, not promoting a specific standard but he is passionate about the future of connected light. He wants everyone to see where this technology can take us as it gradually becomes part of our daily lives in the same way that e-mail has taken over from handwritten letters.

How to be brilliant…
Rebecca Hutchinson, John Cullen Lighting
16:30 – 17:30
darc room is delighted to welcome special guests and collaborators the ILP with a one-off edition of their incredibly successful how to be brilliant series. Developed especially for students, interns, apprentices and new entrants to the lighting profession. Rebecca Hutchinson, Senior Lighting Designer at John Cullen Lighting, will review the latest Building Regulations, consider where best to position fittings for optimum effect, consider how to layer light for added interest and flexibility of mood, review circuiting, control and integration for maximum impact and look at how to finesse lamps, lenses and control to maximise the scheme.

Go to https://www.darcroom.com/darc-room-workshops/ to register for any of the workshops free of charge.

darc room is London Design Festival’s lighting destination and features 50 exhibitors, 38 live stream talks and 8 workshops – all in a creative space with a unique exhibiting concept.

Exhibitors at darc room 2018 so far include AC Lighting, Aion LED, Applelec, Art et Floritude, AxaLight, Casambi, Coelux, Delta Light, EcoSense, Erco, ES-System, Exenia, Feelux, Forge Europe, Formalighting, LED BCN, LED Ltd, LED Linear, LensVector, LightGraphix, Lightly Tech, Ligman, Linea Light Group, Lite, Lumenpulse Group, MP Lighting, Nicolaudie, Osram, Pro LED, Pulsar, Radiant, SAAS, SGM, Targetti, tossB, Traxon, Tryka, Whitegoods and Zico Lighting.

www.darcroom.com


Shari Lyon

Founder of Gold Coast-based Fluxwood Lighting, Shari Lyon kicks off our new feature – Friday Quick-fire!

What did you want to be when you grew up?

An entrepreneur.

What is the one product you wish you’d designed?

Well it’s more of an invention, but the first phonograph!

Who is your design hero?

Anyone who is dedicated to the intricacies and exploration of design. If I had to pick one today – Hella Jongerius for her approach to the design process.

Sprig Pendant

What inspires you?

The local environment, natural materials and the people around me.

If you didn’t work in design what would you do?

I might be a gardener, a vegan chef or work in education.

What would your dream project be?

Designing for space! Interiors for the new Mars colony.

Solid Hardwood, Tenn pendant

What’s your favourite Instagram account?

So many! But @layer_design for their stunning work and well-designed feed!

What was the last thing you googled?

Brass tube sizes..

Which of your designs are you most proud of?

The first light I designed, which incorporated 3D printing, woodturning and CNC machining.

What or who is the next big thing in lighting?

If I really knew that I couldn’t possibly share it!
I’m looking forward to seeing the development of OLEDs in the market, and I hope to see more of a focus on genuine materials, local craft and custom design.


Sustainable Scandinavian Design

Secto Design’s founder, Tuula Jusélius met Finnish architect and lighting designer, Seppo Koho in 1995. Having bonded over their shared interest in northern wood and Scandinavian design the two became fast friends eventually collaborating on a business that would later become the basis of their present company and backbone of its lighting collection.

Secto Design’s first iteration focused on innovative wooden furniture, which sold well but clients complained about the lack of lighting accessories to complement it. Taking this on board Jusélius looked to the birch tree for inspiration and it’s place in Finland’s history.

After the last glacial period in the northern hemisphere birch trees were the first to dominate the landscape thanks to their remarkable tolerance to challenging conditions. Indigenous people across the northern latitudes referred to the tree as the guardian of the people using the wood to make shelters, utensils and even remedies, so this felt like a good fit for a company whose foundation is built on a deep respect for nature and professional woodworking.

The conical Secto 4200 pendant was the first light the company made, acting as a blueprint for future collections even today the wooden shades of the Secto Design fixtures are handmade in the town of Heinola, central Finland.

Producing lights outside of Finland has never been an option for Jusélius; “About 70% of Finland is covered by forests so I guess it isn’t really a big surprise that we have such skilled woodworkers,” she says. “Wood is a material that has a life of its own according to its surrounding conditions, it takes a lot of skill and patience to manufacture a Secto light and get a flawless result, they may look very easy to make with their simple lines but the reality is quite contrary. If it hadn’t been for the innovativeness of the Finnish cabinet makers it would have been impossible to start manufacturing these lights to a large audience without compromising the artisanal touch. On each lamp you can find the initials of the person who made it. It’s like a signature on a painting and credits our talented artisans.”

Jusélius was the first to bring birch lights to the high-end design market; the innovative use of the wood was warmly welcomed along with Secto’s sustainable approach to design. All Secto Design shades are made of PEFC certified, top-quality Finnish birch veneer that are form pressed into blanks, which are cut into slats, then sanded and connected using rings of aircraft plywood; the slats are then glued and nailed to the rings. The lights were initially designed for energy saving lamps but today use the best possible low-energy LEDs.

Recycling and sorting are also important stages throughout the manufacturing process. Unfortunately Secto’s success has also attracted some unwanted admiration in the form of cheap replicas. The phenomenon of replicas is now an unpleasant reality for Secto with the company coming across new copies every week. “With the issue of counterfeit products there are still many concerns regarding social consciousness,” says Jusélius. “The ugly truth behind a copied product and how pirated products impact society in terms of discrimination, health and poverty is seldom recognised.”

It’s not always easy to tell the fake from the original, especially if the proportions are close to the original and often the material choices and details of the copied products are similar as well, which causes even more confusion. This is why Secto have decided to add a special tag on its products, as a proof of it’s authenticity. This tag is a hologram sticker that has been created just for Secto products by Starcke. Once the authentic design lamp leaves the hands of the maker in Finland, a 20x10 sized hologram security seal is added to the shade. It’s a tamper evident seal, that shows the product has been made in Finland, of top-quality birch material, by a talented local carpenter, in a fair work environment, and that the electrical components are approved and safe to use. The hologram has a picture of the Secto pendant visible to the eye, as well as more detailed information hidden in the layers. If removed, it will break. Thus the same hologram sticker can only be used once, on the original product.

“We stand behind the intellectual property rights of our lamps and put a lot of time and money into the battle against piracy,” continues Jusélius. “Respecting nature, artisans and the environment affects many choices we make on a daily basis. For a company it is easier not to divert from those choices when they are an integral part of our core values.”

www.sectodesign.fi


Jack Rabbit, US

US-based PUNCH Architecture and Illuminate Lighting Design transform a dated and dilapidated space in Portland, Oregon into a hip new restaurant experience that perfectly reflects the city's roots and ethos.

The Duniway Portland Hilton hotel in the US is redefining the hotel dining experience through its Jackrabbit restaurant. A return to the heyday of luxurious hotel bars and a snapshot of the best of upscale Portland dining, the hotel caters to locals and travellers alike, with unexpected and memorable menus and experiences.

The design concept for Jackrabbit combines the creative approach of Chef Chris Consentino’s behind the scenes kitchen craftsmanship with the grit, flavour and character that makes Portland one of the country’s premier dining and lifestyle destinations. As with kitchen environments, the ingredients of Jackrabbit’s interiors have been meticulously selected and come together to create vignettes that highlight key areas of use.

Cosentino’s philosophy is to use everything the animal gives us and this has been reiterated in the restaurant design by utilising the entire space, this was further developed by keeping to his holistic approach of simplicity, sustainability, authenticity and craft, with the design embracing Portland and Cosentino’s approach to cooking and lifestyle - working in tandem with the kitchen and bar. The result is a synergy between flavour and atmosphere, place and taste, embodying Portland’s spirit of conviviality.

Punch Architecture was brought on board to work on the restaurant’s interiors, based on the design studio’s existing relationship with Delicious MFG. Having engaged the hotel owners to go over the key directional points regarding the overall feel of the public space, it was established that the bar and restaurant should not feel as though they were located in a hotel space, this in turn influenced the entire public space environment for the hotel. Illuminate lighting design came on board to support Punch’s vision and design, by enhancing the space through discreet architectural lighting design that is functional, but doesn’t have a seemingly noticeable presence. The architectural lighting was there to make the decorative lighting features, which are very prominent in the project, work in such a way that they provided the right amount of sparkle without creating too much glare.

“Thankfully the concept and design brief didn’t change over time and there weren’t any real value engineered revisions that we had to do for this project,” Zak Ostrowski, a Partner at Punch, tells darc. “The decorative lighting elements were key to the design from a conceptual and aesthetic perspective – while also tying in Chef Consentino’s passions and roots. Key considerations were to make sure all of the custom decorative lights were locally made, which they were. We designed the fixtures in line with our design sensibilities – a little rough around the edges, a splash of bling and a general amount of being ‘rad’.”

The bike chandeliers in the dining space came from a discussion about Chef Consentino’s passion for cycling, lighting and Portland. The designers used recycled Schwinn bike frames, blown glass and low rider inspired Dayton rims with old school Castle spikes for the design. “This tied in nicely with our interest in tricked out objects of movement," says Ostrowski.  "We added some nice touches of brass for that bling factor and blackened steel to add consistency to the restaurant's overall design.”

The custom designed minimal blackened brass chandelier is a simple rectilinear form that is understated but monolithic. It creates a presence of masculinity and femininity while gently floating above the reclaimed live-edge white oak drink rail at the bar area.

The centrepiece of the main dining room is the large wood and steel box beam.

“We wanted to create this massive object that again floated above the space filled with rich earth tones,” Ostrowski explains. “It reads as a massive felled timber beam with industrial steel brackets, tying into Portland’s logging history and use of wood structural beams and columns for multiple projects. It also ties in nicely with the exposed wood beams at Chef Consentino’s restaurant Cockscomb in San Francisco.”

Each decorative lighting feature was carefully considered for a space that serves different functions in the same location. For example the design for the articulating chandeliers was based on the need to rotate the fixtures to tie in with the private dining rooms, which expand in size. The custom live edge walnut tables can be put together to become one giant bookmatched slab and the designers wanted the lights to do the exact same thing. “We collaborated with Savoy Studio on making this happen,” says Ostrowski. “The independent chandeliers have the ability to become this slick and organic giant 20ins chandelier made out of blackened brass, steel and handblown glass.”

The decorative glass elements are leaf shaped to represent Portland’s lush vegetation and complement the original artwork and leather belt feature wall in the space.

The primary lighting design from Illuminate complements the interior design and enhances the dining experience by layering several lighting components to create a scheme. Architectural light fixtures are hidden among the wooden beams in the ceiling to provide functional lighting for table surfaces, but are discreetly and strategically placed so as to give the decorative fixtures a significant presence. A combination of recessed and stems mount downlights while the precisely calculated beam spreads light over the tables and food on display, while warmer decorative ceiling and wall fixtures provide the glow that complements the interior style. Key features such as brick walls, leather clad walls and burnt wood screens are grazed with tighter beam downlights and linear grazers. A further detailed layer of lighting is added using linear LED fixtures, integrated within display shelving, uplighting shelves above eye level and downlighting shelves below eye level, eliminating any possibility of looking into a bright source of light.

“The lighting scenes in the space are designed to create various moods throughout the day from breakfast to late night and after hour’s settings,” Niha Sivaprased, Senior Designer at Illuminate Lighting Design tells darc. “An added layer of complexity lay in the need to respond to the incoming daylight and the brighter light levels in the hotel lobby. Smaller groups of fixtures are controlled together to achieve higher control granularity allowing for more meticulous lighting scene settings.

“The perfect balance between sparkle and soft light, functional and decorative light, and ambient and accent light fashions an enticing spectacle from the outside and a comfortable ambiance on the inside. At Jackrabbit, light plays a vital role in bridging the gap between the physical space and the human experience within it.

“The space is rich, relaxing and masculine at surface level, but as one peels back the multiple layers of the project; a subtle femininity comes out with the warm materials, artwork and intimate decorative lighting.”

“The project team was able to turn a dated and dilapidated space into a completely new environment that fits into Portland perfectly, while also reflecting Chef Chris Consentino and the hotel’s new direction,” Ostrowski concludes. “It’s one of the coolest Hilton Brand Hotel projects out there and we are proud to have been a part of it.”

www.puncharc.com

www.illuminateld.com


Grand Millenium Hotel, UAE

Nexo Luce brings Italian design and made-to-measure craftsmanship to Dubai’s Grand Millennium Hotel.

Developed by RTS, the five-star 251-room hotel is a new development in Dubai’s Business Bay area. The client’s expectation for this grand hotel was to set a new standard of luxury in the growing area. Nexo Luce worked closely with interior designers from DIAR consult to develop the design concept of the hotel’s decorative light fittings, all inspired by the desert’s colour pallet and curved shapes.

The atmospheric ambient lighting scheme in warm amber with copper tones complements the sleek, stylish public and private spaces of the property. The lobby/lounge lighting features slim lined pendants made from polished chrome and glass cylinders in rich gold, suspended around a central sphere. The hotel bar area is adorned with rectangular ceiling mounted lights in stainless steel, covered with fine Italian fabric in an ivory shade. The lift corridors are enhanced by the wave-shaped complex chandeliers made from frosted amber and clear glass, infused with gold glitter while the spacious guest-rooms and suites feature combined custom-made decorative illuminations, bedside lights and spotlights, all manufactured and designed by Nexo Luce.

The most impressive feature greets the guests at the hotel entrance from the top of the 18 metre high ceiling. A 14-metre Murano glass chandelier spans three floors and is comprised of seven structured cage clusters made from steel wire and covered by 140 individually crafted amber glass leaves individually crafted by Venetian craftsmen. The shape of the leaves is realised in four types, which allow assembly outside the cluster, while the light sources are suspended inside the fixture.

For the hotel’s ballroom Nexo Luce created 27 hand-carved chandeliers that fill the coffered ceiling of the three interconnected spaces. With white and warm hues the chandeliers are made from clear glass tubes assembled by a round mirror frame that creates a light refraction effect.

www.nexoluce.com


Gabriel Scott celebrates Bar Basso’s 51st birthday

(Italy) - Gabriel Scott creates bespoke light installation at iconic Milan bar.

On October 13th, 1967 Mirko Stocchetto – then a barman at the renowned Hotel Posta, Cortina, in the Italian Dolomites – bought Milan-based Bar Basso from Mr Giuseppe Basso. Stocchetto Introduced the Milanese audience to a whole new drinking culture – bringing with him a touch of glamour and the art of mixology, Stocchetto created the Iconic cocktail Negroni Sbagliato.

The bar’s relationship with design began in 1980, following the success of Memphis, many young international designers, (who would later go on to become famous) such as Marc Newson, Jasper Morrison, Thomas Sandell, Ross Lovegrove, and James Irvine – visited the bar.

In April 1999, during Salone del Mobile, the young designers together with Stefano Giovannoni and Maurizio Stocchetto decided to organise a party at the bar inviting a hundred or so friends. Unexpectedly, however, the news spread all around the city and taxis started to pour in: in the end more than a thousand people turned up to drink at Bar Basso that night. Since then, the Bar, which today is led by Maurizio (Mirko’s son), has become a meeting spot for designers that attend Milan Design Week. Over the years the likes of Ron Arad, Alfredo Haberli, the Bouroullec brothers, Marcel Wanders, Luca Nichetto, Karim Rashid, Maurizio Cattelan or the Gelitins, as well as journalists, fashion designers, and fashion people have visited the bar.

To celebrate Bar Basso’s 51st birthday, Gabriel Scott created a tailored-made light installation with the popular Welles Glass Long Chandelier.The installation hangs as an almost revolutionary act, as it is the first time, since 1967, that new elements have been added to the bar’s interior. Welles Glass lights are designed as transparent solid bodies of organic matrix, blown in white alabaster glass and connected by a finely woven copper cable; each piece is handmade in the company’s atelier in Montreal and expresses Gabriel Scott's attention to good design and high craftsmanship; the same knowhow that one feels at Bar Basso.

www.gabriel-scott.com

 


Artemide completes Competence Centre in Zurich

(Switzerland) - Final touches have been made to the interior of Artemide’s Zurich showroom.

Artemide’s light fixtures have been on display at the Artemide Lighting Competence Centre in Albulastrasse, Zurich since 2017, but now the final touches to the interior have been completed, Artemide will be opening its doors on Thursday 28 June.

The showroom will display numerous products from the brands range while the spacious and modern setting offers visitors the opportunity to experience lighting in specific applications and take home some inspiring ideas and designs.

In addition to retail spaces, a workstation an office and a conference room are also furnished with appropriate lighting solutions. Special contemporary luminaires can be explored, along with the latest innovations in lighting technology.

www.artemide.com