The lighting biennale Euroluce is one of the most acclaimed events of the Milan Design Week, which this year received more than 300,000 visitors. It is also the ultimate international meeting place for professionals who travel to Milan to exhibit and discover the latest products and lighting design trends.
The main focus this year was on eco-sustainability and energy saving in the decorative, architectural and the lighting technology fields.
Always looking for specific lighting solutions for my projects, I was thrilled to see the collections of well-established lighting brands along with those of new exciting names.
Here is my selection:

Bover

Joana Bover founded the eponymous lighting brand in 1996 in Barcelona which is now one of the leading companies in the contemporary lighting sector, with a subsidiary in the United States and a worldwide presence.
Purveyors of timeless design, Bover maintains a balance between quality and trends and is dedicated to the improvement of space by providing natural and sustainable lighting solutions. They also undertake large-scale commissions where comfort and lighting performance are crucial. The cultural influence is again very present in Bover collections, which are produced using artisanal methods combined with advanced technologies.

Lázaro Rosa-Violán imagined Mod as a versatile pendant light made of clusters of flowers, that offers plenty of customisable possibilities. The petals of the flowers adapt to a wide range of materials: smooth plates, perforated, deployed, drawn or laser cut. Or they can be made of natural materials, such as wood veneer or raffia or even sewn or crocheted. Mod is one of Bover’s newest designs showcased this year at Euroluce.

Drip from the Drip / Drop collection is designed by Christophe Mathieu and includes more than ten references for both residential and commercial sectors. Their small lampshade is made of borosilicate glass that gives it a subtle and refined look. Available in nine tones of blue, green, white and transparent glass, it provides excellent task lighting, creating a bright yet intimate ambience.

Designed by Gonzalo Milà, Tanit is a portable and rechargeable table lamp, that diffuses a soft light through its delicate hand-woven shade. Thanks to its lightness, size and autonomy, Tanit easily adapts to both indoors and outdoors, domestic as well as commercial sectors, on terraces of stylish restaurants and hotels.

Skybell and Domita are flexible light systems, providing freedom of design thanks to the various possibilities of application, sizes and forms creating a subtle yet captivating decorative effect.

Articolo

Melbourne-based lighting design studio Articolo, was pleased to introduce last month in Milan two new lighting designs - the Scandal pendant and wall sconce, along with main pieces from brand's acclaimed collection of sculptural lighting.
Through its work, Articolo celebrates the art of light, staying true to artisanal quality and craftsmanship. Their lighting collections are made of luxurious materials, internationally acclaimed for their contemporary yet enduring aesthetics, reflecting creative director’s , Nicci Green passion for the textural spirit of light.

Scandal is a collection of pendants and wall sconces with slim and finely considered silhouettes and distinctive barrel-like cuff inlaid with exquisite brass mesh hand-woven in Paris, or an elegant latte leather inlay. Their elongated proportions with rounded glass ends conceal the light source, outlining the quiet brilliance of artisanal glass and metalwork.

Articolo’s sleek stand at Euroluce was imagined by Studio Goss, an architecture practice from Melbourne, Australia and their long-time collaborator, who also designed their Melbourne and New York showrooms, the latter opening in the iconic St. James Building on Broadway this May.

Articolo's first European presence in Milan this year was reinforced by its participation in the Fuorisalone international group show, Meet My Project, located in the Brera Design District

Arturo Alvarez

After two years of research, design and development Arturo Alvarez launched at Euroluce this year his latest emotional lighting creations.
Leria is a lighting artwork made of stainless steel mesh, LED illuminated, that is fixed into a rotative platform equipped with a magnet system.
When switched on, it projects the contour of a human face on the wall or ceiling, creating almost a 3D effect.

Born from the desire to explore human communication and reinforced by its enigmatic wood-carved silhouette and innovative technology, Leria table was the uncontested favourite at Euroluce 2019.

Mytilus’s nostalgic and calm shape evokes the perpetual flow of the sea waves. Handmade in stainless steel mesh, Mytilus has a light source wrapped in a handmade glass tulip. Available as a wall lamp or pendant in two sizes.

Mytilus and Aimei express Arturo Álvarez’s philosophy which brings together research, experimentation, design, innovation and craftsmanship. Concerned to improve the sustainability of his designs, Arturo Álvarez named his new creations after marine species, thus addressing the problem of plastic in the oceans which has become lately a source of serious concern.

Art curator David Barro declares “Arturo Álvarez conjugates the artisanal and the emotional, the aesthetic and the functional, the sustainable and the progress … In his hands the light is a luck of utopia, a light that, on the other hand, always he has built the painting, has expressed ideas and exalted feelings.”

Hind Rabii

Hind Rabii is a Belgian company founded by industrial designers Hind Rabii and Michel Orban in 1997.
They both shared her passion for design and innovation through the use of the most sophisticated technologies that are energy efficient. The precious materials used for their creations such as Murano glass, ceramic from Venice, wood, gold and silver leaf and are designed and produced in Belgium or in Italy.
This year, they were delighted to introduce at Euroluce their latest designs: T-Cotta The Lamp, Meridiana wall and floor lamp, both signed Chiaramonte Marin Studio and the last newest Belle D'I Edition signed by Hind Rabii, together with previous creations which were awardedthe German Design Award 2019.

Meridiana has the shape of a sundial which gives this sophisticated wall light an almost mystical appearance. Its diffusor in white marble or wengé oak finish diffuses a soft, non-blinding light.

Belle D’I Edition was inspired by the distinctive shape of Moroccan traditional Beldi glass used for tea and infusions. Featuring a prominent central band, the clean lines of the pendant create a beautiful contrast with the fine quality of the blow-moulding glass. Belle D’I Edition is a timeless lamp that harmonises perfectly any space, whether classic or contemporary, creating a warm, evocative atmosphere.

With its fluid, curved forms, T-Cotta is the result of the fusion between the earthy elements, shaped by man and forged by heat, such as ceramic handmade in Venice and Murano glass. The T-Cotta collection is available in four different shapes and sizes as a pendant or a wall lamp.

Ice Devotion radiates a pleasant light in every direction just like an asteroid coming from elsewhere. The Ice lamp has a base in solid oak and a bulb in coloured mouth blown glass which gives it a very modern-vintage sophisticated look. Ice Devotion is available as table or floor lamp.

Through her designs, Hind Rabii emphasizes the importance of excellent craftsmanship and noble materials, which makes these lighting objects valuable works of art.

ANDlight

ANDlight is a design studio and manufacturer from Vancouver, Canada which has won the reputation of a “brand with substance” since its launch in 2013, by creating functional and reliable lighting products.
For their first show at Euroluce this year, the studio unveiled four new collections designed by Design Academy Eindhoven Alumni and ANDlight’s creative director, Lukas Peet and Canadian designer Caine Heintzman, together with a retrospective of their work.
For this special occasion, Lukas Peet designed a space in muted tones of greys, the perfect canvas to showcase their new collections: Pebble, Array, Pivot, Spotlight and Vale, creating an atemporal and visionary atmosphere.

The Pebble series are sculptural glass-blown shapes, reminiscent of the beautiful qualities of stones. The two translucent pebble-like globes - one large and one smaller, are attached to one another with an aluminium LED holder and heat sink, which discretely conceal the electrical connections and suspension system. Pebble comes in four finishes which can be inter-combined to reinforce the bespoke quality of the product.

Array is a dimmable pendant that diffuses a pleasant ambient light upon its circular panels and compliments the material of the fixture itself, transforming it into an object of contemplation.
Perfectly balanced, the pendant comes as a single or multiple linear fixture, adapting to each environment thanks to a subtle gradation of light. Composed of bespoke LED boards, spun aluminium reflectors and a frame in granite, basalt or magma finish, Array can be used throughout the day on various occasions and settings.

The modern silhouette of the Spotlight Volumes series was however inspired by a classic shape, hence its timeless look. It comprises four unique shade profiles which can be combined in various ways. The Spotlight dimmable uplight floor lamp completes the Spotlight Volumes series of pendants, ceilings and table lights, its elongated architectural proportions emitting a floating glow.

Although displaying pure aesthetics, the Vale series is technically intricate to optimise functionality. A lightweight aluminium frame discretely conceals the technical features of the fixture, providing structure for both lenses. Vale emits a crystallised multidirectional light through its prismatic surface, creating a soft, pleasant atmosphere. The pendant can be fixed horizontally and vertically, as a pendant and ceiling mount, with a single lens or as a pair.

Designed to shape light, the Pivot table lamp acts also as directional downlight that allows for easy adjustments and dimming control. Its balanced and responsive design with a large spherical dimming knob and cord that wraps around the circular base, is enhanced by its tactile characteristics and the pivoting mechanism of the shade.

Characterised by refined aesthetics and versatility with a touch of playfulness, the ANDlight collections vary in form, finish and material and are intended for a wide range of applications. Some of their designs were curated this year by Marcante Testa for the Archiproducts Milano selection, along with a broad variety of products from the most celebrated brands worldwide.

Roll & Hill

Brooklyn-based lighting manufacturer, Roll & Hill announced at Salone del Mobile this year the release of four much awaited collections and collaborations with several notable designers.
Among the novelties on display in Milan were Pole by Philippe Malouin, Geode by Jason Miller, Arbor by Karl Zahn and Coax by John Hogan.
Furthermore, Roll & Hill displayed a rare prototype of a collection designed by David Weeks Studio, never exhibited previously. This was the designer's first collaboration with Roll & Hill which he describes as “an opportunity to bring more designs to market with a partner that is cut from the same cloth as the designers themselves.”

Designed by Karl Zahn, Arbor explores linear forms adapted in three-dimensional space. Outwardly, the pendant seems dominant within the space but it suddenly unveils its warmth and weightless appearance. Its black oak veneer exterior creates contrast with its illuminated white painted core. The pendant is equipped with a new technology that difuses a very discreet "magic" light source with the thinnest available wires to co-exist within the lamp's shell.

Boden is the first collection from David Weeks Studio designed for Roll & Hill and reflects the refined and honest style of work that has become Week's trademark. The simplicity of this collection is counterpoised to the versatility in its application. The apparently simple yet imposing design evokes equilibrium which makes Boden an authentic architectural piece, designed as a single piece or grouped as a focal point piece.

Coax is John Hogan's first design for Roll & Hill. Known for his minimal and often monolithic sculptural glass work, Hogan created a layered, linear fixture that is made almost entirely of glass which gives it a collected aura. Coax is available in polished brass or polished nickel, with a custom integrated circuitry.

Designer Jason Miller imagined Geode as a hemisphere made of three layers of solid, hand-blown glass, bisected to reveal its white core beneath a coloured shell. Geode is equipped with an intelligent LED mount design that employs the decorative wall plate.

Pole is the newest design by Philippe Malouin. Its firm yet flexible aluminium structure and modular design allow it to form giant lighting curves, easily adapted to various applications, from walls and floors, to ceilings.
Rather than uplighting or lighting a specific area, the light is spread only under the curve, however its span is so powerful that it can fill with light the entire living room.

Veronese

2019 started off with a very exciting chapter for The House of Veronese marked by the upcoming opening of its new showroom and the launch of its latest brand vision.
During its nine decades of existence, Veronese has been reinventing the Murano decorative arts - deeply rooted in their past and tradition, by working hand in hand with Venetian artisans and innovative designers to deliver lighting collections that create exciting experiences, rather than focusing exclusively on design.
For Euroluce 2019, Veronese collaborated with two celebrated French designers - Constance Guisset and Isabelle Stanislas, both bringing a unique and contemporary design approach, breaking free from the brand’s former traditional patterns, through colour and vision.

Vela is a fascinating luminaire designed by Constance Guisset and handmade of Murano glass in the Venetian workshops. With its suggestive name, (in Latin vēla - pl. vēlum - means the "sail of a ship"), Vela's organic shape resembles a sailcloth attached at three points. Its natural movement imitates the wind blowing into the wave of the sea creating an impression of lightness and open space.
Vela is available in four different sizes, colours and handcrafted textures – deep stripes, brilliant stripes, stitched cylinders and speckled opaline and can be used as a single pendant or a cluster.

Shaped as a decorative screen, Paralight by Isabelle Stanislas is a mysterious piece with distinct aesthetic features. Its resemblance to a screen gives it an apparent feeling of privacy and intimacy, however deceptive. What may seem hidden is suddenly illuminated by a soft glow.
Simple in design, Paralight is made of two solid pieces of Martellatto Murano glass (hammered glass) worked in the traditionally expert technique of embossing one side to create a semi-opaque texture, outlined by a brass frame. The colour of the glass is a transition from crystal to amethyst and the effect is spectacular.

Ice was born from the desire to create a fascinating glass element that can metamorphose into different compositions, encouraging a continuous creative process.
Thus, Reda Amalou envisioned a 9 cm x 20 cm glass tablet, which can be the lighting design of your choice. The rectangular sheets of hand-laid Murano glass that swing loosely from the frame are hand-pressed with a geometric pattern that captures the light and then diffuse a beautiful glow.
This year, new pieces were added to the Ice series: a circular brass pendant and a rectangular framed table lamp.

Designed by the president of Veronese, Fredie Jochimek, Martha is an homage to the eighty-six years of history of Veronese. With a contemporary design in mind, Mr Jochimek drew from the company archives the most overlooked glass components of the classic Murano glass chandelier—the cup and the bobèches, and placed them at the core of his idea.
Traditionally, the cups were placed on the lowest part of the chandeliers to cover the inner workings of the lighting, while the bobèches caught the drippings of melting wax.
The contemporary design of the Martha pendant combines these classic elements, handcrafted in traditional Murano glass fixed to a modular metallic frame with extensions and equipped with an LED light source. By combining contemporary design with classic Murano glass elements, the designer imagined a modern modular design, connecting the past with the present.

These magnificent pieces were showcased in a stylish setting along with some of Veronese's iconic designs, representative of the brand, such as Cell and Drop by Patrick Naggar, Highlight by Dan Yeffet, YSA by Tristan Auer, Laurence Brabant’s Bijou Bijou table lamp, Past & Future by Piet Hein Eek.

The 44th edition of Euroluce will take place in 2021 at Milano’s Rho Fairgrounds.