Indoor / Outdoor Lighting
As technological advances allow increased flexibility in the use of luminaires, renowned Italian modern lighting manufacturer Flos has taken full advantage to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor. Many of its new lamps are rechargeable, meaning that you can take them with you for a Summer evening out on the patio or in the garden, for example. One particular new family of lights - Caule designed by Patricia Urquiola - is wired for use outside as well as inside (IP44 and IP65 rated).
Taking her inspiration from the slender and flexible stems of delicate flowers, the Caule is available in several different heights and six earthy colours. The lamp head appears to droop, a bit like a snowdrop or a bluebell - directing its light to the ground before it, the 'nest' shade providing a wonderful circular grid-like pattern.
The lamps are characterised by their soft, pliable stem. The lamp head is available in two different models: solid, for direct soft light, or with a ‘nest’ cover, a metallic mesh creating a unique wash of diffuse light. The structure of the stem is made of AISI 304 stainless steel for effective resistance to atmospheric agents. The base of the movable floor version is made of AISI 304 stainless steel. The lamp head, which holds the included LED light source, is made of moulded aluminium; the cover of the ‘nest’ version is made of a metallic mesh in AISI 316L stainless steel. The structure is treated with a chemical conversion process for effective resistance to atmospheric agents.
The screen protecting the light source is made of sanded glass for the solid head and methacrylate for the ‘nest’ version. The floor lamp version comes with 5 metres of cable appropriate for outdoor use with a Schuko IP44 and IP65 backlit pedal dimmer switch for easy ON/OFF and to adjust the amount of light.
Philippe Starck's In Vitro family seeks to redefine the lantern - with the LED light source hidden in the head, the light emitted is cast through the glass volume and out upon any surface below. In Vitro Unplugged provides complete portability via its soft silicone handle, which also allows it to be hung from a trellis, pergola or tree branch. Bring it back inside to recharge the lamp via a USB-C cable.
Last Order is the evolution of a table lamp originally designed by Michael Anastassiades for the dining room of the legendary Four Seasons restaurant in New York, which reopened in 2018 after relocating, with interiors designed by Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld. It diffuses light through an elegant base in solid clear glass, whose shape references the architecture of the columns of Ancient Greece. The glass is available in two versions: smooth, for a more minimal, contemporary look, or fluted, for timeless elegance. The top cover is available in various combinations of coloured or metal finishes: satin copper and brass for the indoor version, polished stainless steel and green opal coating for outdoors.
The first of Flos's portable lamps was the Bellhop by Ed Barber and Jay Osgerby. The characteristic simplicity of their design echoes the original luminaire: the candle. Casting an atmospheric pool of light across a table top, Bellhop is available in six luscious colours.
