Cool Hunting

by Tisha Leung

If you visited Euroluce during Milan Design Week 2009, you may have spied Leucos' 30 new lighting options. The nearly half-century old Italian consortium created an unusual exhibit to unveil their new Moai floor light. Designed by young Turkish designer Defne Koz, Moai was part of a major communication event involving showrooms in major cities around the globe. At precisely noon local time, on 22 April 2009, live cameras broadcasted images back-and-forth in real time, linking designers, showrooms and media around this one common moment of light. Below are a few product highlights from the entire collection.

Moai from Leucos
Inspired by Polynesian sculptures and shapes gleaned from nature, Moai works as a table or floor lamp. The two large hand-blown diffusers are white satin, with one smaller than the other. The lamp's base, made from compact glossy resin, is available in white, black or mocha. Its organic shape meshes seamlessly in any decor and the double dimmer switch allows for matching any mood.

Ether from FDV
Designed by Patrick Jouin for FDV Collection, Ether features a brilliant cascade of glass droplets. Both delicate yet substantial, four spotlights and a multicolor changing LED light the chandelier's strings of blown glass bubbles from above. The pendant lamp is available in three sizes with a polished steel frame.

Katana by Itre
Modeled after the instruments of the ancient Samurai, the inspiration for Itre's Katana collection is immediately obvious but unknown to most—its distinct and dramatic look actually comes from extensive research on the use of carbon fiber. The lightweight, cutting-edge material provides excellent stability despite complex constructs.