Naoto and the fine line of light
Bringing together in a virtual sense the presence of two iconic table lamps from Artemide: Tizio by Sapper and Tolomeo by De Lucchi, two of Artemide’s most popular products as well as the two most strongly associated with the image of the company. Naoto Fukasawa rose to the challenge presented ti him three years ago by Ernesto Gismondi when he was asked to address the task of creating a Tizio-Tolomeo for today. The producer offered a clear brief: to make use of LEDs, which guarantee an intense and warm light, are low in energy consumption and have a long life. It was a technological choice that influenced the shape: first of all the incredibly small size of the illuminating body and as a result, for questions of proportion, the base and stem. This proved to be an important decision in determining the character of Itis. It is surprising to discover how despite the fact that the light comes from a tiny circular opening placed on the diffuser, it manages to produce a broad circle of light on a surface, in a magic synchrony with the cylindrical forms of the two disks. The light also filters from the top of the head. The strength of Itis lies in the extreme simplicity of its design, and in a play of equilibrium – of forms and weights – between the two component disks that go to make it up: the work carried out by the Artemide design office has meant that the lamp is made stable even when the diffuser is lowered almost down to the ground. Small and flexible – it can be completely flattened to become a single element – Itis adapts easily to new situations: it can be used for reading and writing, also on bedside tables, or for more general lighting by pointing it towards the wall. The concepts of flexibility and interaction are an integral part of this design. Fukasawa is deeply convinced that a “beautiful” object has to be able to adapt to a number of functions and be able to establish an unconscious and “natural” interaction with the user. Always remaining itself: “A table has to look like a table”, he sums up. “This means that it has to be very normal. Sometimes the word “normal” is the best to describe design. Everyone thinks that the task of the designer is to change, renew... I think that one should create something “new” that maintains a sense of the “old”, a new normal object”. The price factor – LED lamps are more expensive compared to those that use traditional light sources – doesn’t worry Naoto: “No world producer can compete with the factories in China. But the problem is not competition from the East, so much as being aligned with the price expectations of possible clients.” And in any case, it is fair to point out that Artemide worked hard to lower the price of Itis by about 20% compared to equivalent lamps already on the market by another famous Italian manufacturer.





Marble matters– exploring Carrara’s legacy
Sixteen young international architects took part in two intensive training days in Carrara, organized by FUM Academy and YACademy, featuring visits to the marble quarries and a design workshop focused on the use of the material.