Lighting: contemporary inspiration

POSITIVE LIGHT

Light not only affects how we visually experience a space, but it also influences our energy levels, productivity, and even our mental health. However, great lighting is not only reserved for dark nights. Although general lighting may not be necessary during the day, accent lighting can be used to help brighten up a dark corner and help balance daylight and electrical light across your space. As many of us continue to WFH, be sure to pay attention to the task at hand too: cooler blue and white light is good for working and concentration. Unsure? Try lighting up different places in your space and see how you feel. You’ll eventually settle on the right position for you.

Get creative with La Linea by Artemide. It is undefined by geometries, so you can twist and turn this flexible tube of light to suit your indoor and outdoor spaces. Various widths and lengths allow you to weave and layer to your heart’s content. It is sustainable, reconfigurable and long-lasting (www.artemide.com).

lluminated or not, the Concentric wall light is a work of art by Rob Zinn for Marset. This hypnotic wall light is made from overlapped white lacquered metal plates and is available in three sizes and two colourways. Shown here is the Major model with warm colours: nut down, gold, soft pink and orange red. Marset is available from Ges Lighting in C/ Uranio in Pol. Ind. La Ermita in Marbella (www.grupoelectrostocks.com) and through Siesta Interior Design in CC Plaza in Nueva Andalucía (www.siestainteriordesign.com).

The moon-like EMI wall lights by Atelier Alain Ellouz are made from rare alabaster. This elegant gemstone allows the backlight to magnify a myriad of patterns: fluid or crystallised, white or ochre – and many degrees of transparency. Atelier Alain Ellouz is available from Lijomi in Marbella Club (www.lijomi.eu).

Inspired by leftover aluminium profiles, the bold and colourful High Profile series by Deltalight finds opportunity and beauty in elements that would usually be cast aside. Its cube-shaped pendant, appliqué and freestanding models are available in a choice of expressive colours including pink, ochre, light green and light blue. Deltalight is available from Lijomi in Marbella Club (www.lijomi.eu).

Contardi’s Stick collection by Studiopepe was inspired by the simplest of shapes. These lamps start from a basic module with a triangular section – a repeated object, which allows for infinite configurations and always conveys new expressive strength. Available in wall-mounted and pendant versions, these pieces are characterised by a minimal design and interpret lighting in its most artistic and evocative form. Contardi is available through Alison Bethell-Collins Interior Design in Avenida del Mediterráneo, San Pedro de Alcántara (www.alisonbethellcollins.com).

Inspired by futuristic designer lighting from the 1960s, the Spiridon Chandelier from Eichholtz exudes mid-century modern glamour. Available directly from the Eichholtz Monobrand showroom, situated in Centro Comercial Azalea in Nueva Andalucía (www.idhouseonline.com) com), and also through The Art in the Marbella Club (www.theart-interiordesign.com).

The distinctive metal finishes of the Mito rings are the result of a meticulous production process, resulting in their unique colour intensity and their finely hand-brushed frame. Operating an Occhio luminaire is a luxurious experience. They can be controlled simply by a gesture, whether you want to switch on or off or change the brightness or light colour (www.occhio.de).

Sustainability has been key in the design of the Zile floor lamp by Luceplan. The diffuser is made of a bio-durable polymer which means that if (ever!) discarded it will break down naturally in the environment. Also available as a table lamp, its steel frame comes in four matt finishes: white, black, dove grey and brick red. Luceplan is available from Ges Lighting in C/ Uranio in Pol. Ind. La Ermita in Marbella (www.grupoelectrostocks.com).

Designed by Isamu Noguchi for Vitra in the fifties, over 100 different Akari light sculptures are characterised by their weightless luminosity. Each is meticulously crafted by hand in the Ozeki workshop, a traditional family-run company based in Gifu (Japan). For the first step, bamboo rods are stretched across the original wooden forms designed by Noguchi to make the framework that determines the object’s shape. Washi paper, derived from the bark of the mulberry tree, is cut in strips to fit the size and shape of the lamp and then glued to the bamboo ribbing. After the glue has dried, the wooden form is removed and the shade can be folded (www.vitra.com).

The Atollo table lamp by Vico Magistretti for Oluce has been gracing the world’s most stylish nightstands since 1977. Formed by three geometric shapes – cyclinder, cone and hemisphere – it revolutionised the way we imagined the classic bedside lamp when it won the Compasso d’Oro in 1979. Atollo is available in three sizes and a choice of white, black, satin bronze or satin gold metal finishes (www.oluce.com).

Foscarini’s Filo lamp was born from the desire to display the individual parts that go into a lamp – the light source, decoration and electrical wiring. Available in a choice of colourways, Filo comes in table, floor, wall or suspension versions. Foscarini is available from Ges Lighting in C/ Uranio in Pol. Ind. La Ermita in Marbella (www.grupoelectrostocks.com).

Shining bright like a diamond, the Tiara Luce lamp was inspired by Francesco Lucchese’s Tiara vase. Adding to Venini’s Airtight collection, this new design reinterpretation creates an object that encapsulates the preciousness of a royal jewel (www.venini.com).

Opposite Page The Muffins collection has quickly become a symbol of Czech brand Brokis. Available as both table and pendant lamps in multiple shapes, sizes and colours, these iconic lights feature hand-blown glass shades, handcrafted wooden bases and naked filament bulbs. Brokis is available from Ges Lighting in C/ Uranio in Pol. Ind. La Ermita in Marbella (www.grupoelectrostocks.com).

The dreamy Nans collection from Bover embodies Mediterranean style. Unify your outdoor living areas with a wide choice of pendant, wall, ceiling and portable lamps. Nan’s woven lampshade is made from a recyclable synthetic material and comes in red, beige or brown. Bover is available from Ges Lighting in C/ Uranio in Polígono Industrial La Ermita in Marbella (www.grupoelectrostocks.com).

Casting Round by Vincent Van Duysen for Flos brings back to mind the Brutalist period with its penchant for concrete. A simple shape that blends with any environment, this low-level outdoor lamp is handcrafted and made from a mix of concrete, inert materials and reinforcing fibres. Flos is available from Ges Lighting in C/ Uranio in Polígono Industrial La Ermita in Marbella (www.grupoelectrostocks.com).

The Lumina Eva is a table-top indirect up-light designed to create a floating cone of light that emanates a warm glow similar to candlelight. Wrapped around the base is a grooved, free-moving wheel that works as the dimmer, which uses infra-red sensors to achieve precise control over light levels. Eva comes in anodised black, bronze, brass and silver finishes. Lumina is available from Ges Lighting in C/ Uranio in Pol. Ind. La Ermita in Marbella (www.grupoelectrostocks.com).

Playful, colourful, sculptural and sophisticated, The Others by Stephen Burk for Dedon consists of a variety of hand-woven lanterns that, presented individually or arranged in totem-like stacks, take on the appearance of illuminated characters. Dedon is available from Outdoor Concepts at the top of the Boulevard in San Pedro de Alcántara (www.outdoorconcepts.es), Acoola in Pol. Ind. San Pedro de Alcántara (www.acoola.eu) and GC Studio in CC Camoján Corner in Marbella (www.gc-studio.es).

Cattelani & Smith’s playful ALE BE T rechargeable table lamp, shown here in red, blue and yellow, will add a lively touch to any space. A choice of models and colours is characterised by the unexpected detail of a fly resting on the hemisphere. Cattelani & Smith is available from Ges Lighting in Calle Uranio in Polígono Industrial La Ermita in Marbella (www.grupoelectrostocks.com).