The big news here last spring was not furniture. It was lighting. The Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the furniture exhibition that corrals the most cutting-edge designers and manufacturers from around the world, did not live up to its reputation this year as the fairest of fairs. The furniture introduced here was, by and large, staid.
But it was a different story at Euroluce, the lighting show that pops up within the umbrella of the Salone every other year.
“Euroluce this year really came together,” says Nasir Kassamali, owner of the Luminaire stores in Chicago and Coral Gables, Fla. “It was very fulfilling for me to see that after years and years of decay, there was a new design energy.”
Kassamali especially liked the work of new designers who never had done lighting before. And he liked the “responsible” design that seemed more apparent than in the past–the sensible use of materials, the ability of a single fixture to accept different types of light sources.
Gregory Kay, president of Tech Lighting, a Chicago-based lighting manufacturer and retail showroom, liked what he saw in terms of technology–transformers getting smaller, the number of companies doing cable, and rail systems getting bigger.
Still, some of the freshest ideas came from veteran European designers, and those ideas were not about cables and transformers.
Alberto Meda, who has been designing consumer products for almost 30 years and whose training as a mechanical engineer shined especially bright this spring, introduced a hard-working table lamp. It moves every which way. And so does the light.
“The idea is to make a lamp like a tool,” explained Meda, who teamed up with fellow Italian Paolo Rizzatto on the project.
And then there was Ingo Maurer. He, the undisputed king of creative lighting, delivered a collection of exquisite paper lamps–a cross between lighting and sculpture.
Most of the products we are showing will not be available in the U.S. until the end of the year or beginning of 1999.
HOW TO BUY `ENLIGHTENMENT’
Here is information on prices for lighting featured here and how to purchase them:
Fortebraccio from Luceplan (about $300) will be available early 1999 at Luminaire, 301 W. Superior St., 312-664-9582; The Morson Collection, 100 E. Walton St., 312-587-7400; Source of Light, 229 N. Damen Ave., 312-421-5841; Superior Lighting, 1333 N. Kingsbury St., 312-280-8866; and Tech Lighting, 300 W. Superior St., 312-642-1586.
Luceplan is still working out the packaging details on the Blow ceiling fan. At press time, the company plans to offer three versions of the three-blade fan: one that comes with clear blades; one with colored blades; and one with neon-colored blades. The fan (about $650), which comes with a remote control, will be available early 1999 at Luminaire, 301 W. Superior St., 312-664-9582; The Morson Collection, 100 E. Walton St., 312-587-7400; Source of Light, 229 N. Damen Ave., 312-421-5841; Superior Lighting, 1333 N. Kingsbury St., 312-280-8866; and Tech Lighting, 300 W. Superior St., 312-642-1586.
The Morocco chandelier (about $1,150) measures 22 inches square with a drop of either 55 or 67 inches. Glasses are not included. Available early 1999 at Luminaire, 301 W. Superior St., 312-664-9582; and Manifesto, 200 W. Superior St., 312-664-0733 (relocating in November to 755 N. Wells St.).
Shadow table and floor lights (about $300 for smallest table lamp to $1,600 for 6-foot-plus floor lamp) will be available in the fall at Luminaire, 301 W. Superior St., 312-664-9582.
The Glo-Ball will be available in spring 1999, in floor, table and hanging pendant models. For prices and local dealers, call Flos, 516-549-2745.
Flos expects to have its Archimoon Soft halogen light (about $400) in retail showrooms by the end of the year. For dealers, call Flos, 516-549-2745.
Oskar bookcase lamps (about $430) are expected this fall at Luminaire, 301 W. Superior St., 312-664-9582.
The MaMo Nouchies ($600 to $1,000) will be at Luminaire, 301 W. Superior St., 312-664-9582, in October.
