Light / Room

As part of DesignTO 2020, we showcased our latest collection of light fixtures in a small exhibition, click here for more information.

LIGHT/ROOM

Electric powered light is our era’s source of illumination in the dark, and while taking different shapes and forms, it has become a permanent part of our living spaces. When lit up, it manipulates the perception of space by changing shadows, glimmering reflections or shifting the primary focus. During the day, it becomes part of the space composition fitting simply in the layout or sometimes turning into an art piece to look at.

Curious and interested in interactive relationship between space and light sources, my journey started by making a table lamp. We needed a light to sit on top of a solid wood mid-century modern credenza that we had at the corner of the living room. To me, it was about a delicate balance and dialog between new lamp and other objects at that corner, specifically the credenza it would be sitting on. Inspired by old lanterns, Fanoos was shaped with some similar materials and composition. It is shaped by half-golden lamp shimmering at the center of a glass dome hovering above a golden metal base using bent metal clips. It creates a dimmed mood-light at night and becomes a shimmering ornament during the day.

Next steps towards what became a collection presented here were simultaneous with renovation of our house and the need for reasonably priced custom designed lightings. My attempt was to reflect main design principals of the space through its lighting fixtures; some of them to mention are; using raw natural materials, valuing craftsmanship in the process of making while keeping the cost affordable. Beginning of the design process was with initial sketches, material selection and mock ups. Next challenge was how to find and bring together different components representing the initial idea. On one hand, some parts were crafted from raw materials, left without any coating or finishing to allow natural weathering over time; on the other hand, to conform to required standards and keep the cost low, manufactured products and ordinary objects were modified to be integrated in. Having this combination of crafted and manufactured parts was a crucial factor in making these fixtures custom, unique and affordable.

Creating theses fixtures, working with various materials, crafting different parts and bringing them together was like storytelling; each material and part brought to this tale carried a specific character that eventually played a role in shaping the narrative that I was aiming to tell. A story that I believe would be most appropriate to share with others in the same space it was originally intended for.

Photographs by Andrew Snow