January 14, 2013

Inspired by fluid forms and distorted flat surfaces, Nafir stemmed from the idea that light is a compliment to sound. Karim Rashid developed the iconic lamp with composition and flexibility in mind.

This flexibility makes it an excellent fixture for public/semi-public spaces like hotels and restaurants but also for residential use. Rashid says ‘I imagine a restaurant with a single long table running its length, above is a large configuration of many Nafir lights all linked up… it would look amazing. Each user will experience Nafir in a truly unique way.’

Named after a North African Trumpet, Nafir’s shape is said to reflect the instrument’s body. The Nafir was originally a small trumpet of Persian origin which then became widespread over all of North Africa where it is still in use today. As a tribute to the Rashid’s North African origins, the Nafir pendant was inspired by the music and silhouette of this small Persian trumpet.

Rashid combined these North African origins with his great taste for contemporary art. He says ‘I have always been moved by the thought that the future is here thanks to everything in the past or, if you prefer, that we look at the future as a ‘race towards the archetype.’ Rashid feels that this ideology remains conducive with AXO Light’s vision for design.

Rashid decided to make Nafir an LED lamp to embody this contemporary vision. He suggests that designers of the modern world are no longer subject to the limitations of halogen lamps and can thus create new shapes, totally different from the past. The light emitted from Nafir is concentrated downwards in an attempt to restrict and strength illumination rather than orchestrate diffusion.

The Nafir can be acquired individually or grouped into clusters of three. Colour choices range from a Chrome Exterior and White Interior to a White Exterior and Gold Interior. The canopies are made from white plastic injection material and of identical colour and finish to the lamp. The Single Version spans a width of 20cm with a total suspension height of 180cm, and with the same the suspension height the Triple Version has a width of approximately 50cm.

Karim Rashid’s Nafir Pendant is now available from Mondo Luce and Studio Italia.

October 4, 2012

Vetreria Vistosi’s latest innovation is a collection of contemporary glass lamps, designed as a modern alternative to Vistosi’s more traditional designs. Titled, Ono Luce, the collection includes a variety of floor, table, wall, and ceiling and suspension lights.

Acquired by two young entrepreneurs based in the Veneto region, the ONO brand has grown exponentially over the past few years as a result of its sophisticated products and youthful approaches to design. ONO not only pushes the boundaries of design, but it also prides itself on its high-tech capabilities with the support of cutting-edge technology.

Techniques employed throughout the range include both traditional methods and contemporary approaches. Mouth-blown Pyrex glass and wood manufacturing techniques, along with the marble design skills of master craftsmen from Carrara and the time-honoured glass-blowing techniques of Murano are among the traditional devices used by Vistosi. From a contemporary perspective, 3D laser cutting solutions, methacrylate blowing, aluminium profiling, metal sand-casting techniques and superficial treatments such as glass metallisation and iridisation and the use of new light sources such as LED and metallic iodides are responsible for composing each modern design.

Within the collection, one of the more traditional Vistosi designs has been reinvented into a contemporary form. The new Zero table and floor lamps have retained the shape of their traditional design, but have played up the new trend of minimalism and gigantism.  The Zero series is available in a range of colours from the traditional Vistosi white to a more contemporary red.

Also available from Ono Luce, is the new Ferea table and suspension lamp. With a futuristic design, the Ferea table lamps act not only as lights but also as decorative table features. As a suspension lamp, the Ferea provides a generous amount of light so it can be placed individually within a small space or grouped together in larger areas.

The Ono Luce collection also includes the contemporary Aga lamp available as a pendant light or table lamp. The Aga lamps are handmade from borosilicate glass and utilize a high efficiency LED 6 and 1 amber LED for the simulation of a flame. With a slender body, the Aga pendants look best as a collective set in a linear fashion.

Also included in the new Ono Luce range is the quirky 898 table lamp. Shaped like a mushroom, the 898 is made from blown glass and has a luminous stem and shade. With an inbuilt diffuser, the 898 provides a soft indirect light designed for mood-setting.

The Ono Luce collection can now be found in store or online at Mondo Luce.

June 12, 2012

AXO’s new 2012 collection is at the forefront of innovation and creative design. Composed of an array of brand new products and successfully revised designs, each piece offers something contemporary and creative. The distinguishing design concepts of art and nature are prominent throughout the collection, with fixtures such as the Muse Fiori design copying the detailed and distinct patterns of flowers.

The new Muse designs featured in the 2012 collection have pushed the boundaries of lighting compositions with detailed patterns and assorted shapes. Each lamp is supported by a metal frame covered by a removable and washable elastic fabric. This innovative feature of the Muse lamp makes it perfect for households prone to dust or dirt.

Within the 2012 collection, AXO have released a brand new design called Sunshade. Comprised of both floor and suspension lamps, Sunshade is a traditional style with a modern twist. Each lampshade is made from a mesh fabric and housed by a frame in an aluminium grey finish. The Sunshade is available in a white, sand or lilac colour and can take either a fluorescent or halogen globe.

But of every new item in the 2012 collection, none can compare to the breath-taking new range of Spillray lamps. The popular glass lights are now available as table and ceiling lamps in crystal, red, orange and grey. AXO have also introduced an astonishing array of Spillray Chandeliers. Available in 20, 26 and 30 light clusters these chrome supported pendants are the must-have feature light of 2012.

AXO’s latest collection boasts a variety of high-end decorative lighting. Each design represents something new and exciting for the lighting and architectural industries. All of these lamps are now available exclusively through Studio Italia and Mondo Luce.

March 8, 2012

Once upon a time Milan and Paris were the creative hubs of the world’s most proficient designers. Today, designers no longer look to Milan or Paris for ideas, with a renewed interest in the environment and increased globalisation, their attention is turning to the Pacific, Africa and South America for inspiration.

David Trubridge is a New Zealand designer dedicated to environmental sustainability and the conservation of wildlife. He constructs his décor from eco-friendly plywood timber and designs his pieces to ensure minimal wastage.  Many of Trubridge’s designs are flat-packed and kitset for easy and low energy freighting.  His classic pieces are not only environmentally sound, but they also renowned for their intricate detail and exceptional craftsmanship.

The ‘Koura’ Lamp is from one of Trubridge’s kitset collections and was designed to replicate the shape of small fresh water shrimps. The criss-cross pattern of the lamp mirrors the woven traps used for catching these small animals. Dedicated to energy conservation, Trubridge has ensured the ‘Koura’ Lamp is available both with a halogen and LED option.

Recently, Trubridge’s ‘Koura’ design was spotted in the new Hermes boutique at the Lutetia swimming pool in Paris. Within the heritage building, French architecture firm RDAI (Rena Dumas Architecture Interieure) has designed an organic series of timber lattice domes for the momentous French brand. The three-level dome structures are the main feature within Hermes new store and are notably influenced by Trubridge’s ‘Koura’ Lamp.

The over-sized domes may appear unlike the ‘Koura’ Lamp in size and functionality, but it is undeniable that the criss-cross pattern of both features is identical. Cited by the Architects as a key influence, Trubridge is notably setting trends within the World’s design capital. With more focus on eco-friendly designs, European designers are increasingly drawing inspiration from previously ignored cultural sources, providing non-European artists with an opportunity for global recognition.

Trubridge continues to keep up with the world’s design leaders, striving for innovation and revolution in the formulation of his designs. More recently, his Icarus lamp was purchased for the permanent collection of the Pompidou Centre in Paris.

For more information on the ‘Koura’ Lamp or any other David Trubridge products please contact us.