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“Sometimes what is appropriate is what is strikingly new.
Those are the great moments of design.” Vitra on its design processes
Those are the great moments of design.” Vitra on its design processes
Vitra bestseller
Vitra – durable lighting objects with a timeless look
The foundation of the Swiss family business Vitra was laid in 1950, when Willi Fehlbaum took over a store fitting business and expanded it into a furniture manufacturing company. The breakthrough came a few years later when Fehlbaum encountered furniture by Ray and Charles Eames in the USA. Inspired by the innovative designs, the entrepreneur began to manufacture and sell this very furniture in Europe under the appropriate license. Success soon followed and continues to this day. This is due in part to the numerous renowned designers with whom Vitra has entered into collaborations over the years. The manufacturer has worked with Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Konstantin Grcic, Jasper Morrison and Verner Panton, among others.
The focus of the range is on seating and tables, plus other furniture and home accessories – and of course lamps. Among the best-known products are the charming
paper lamps
by Isamu Noguchi, which often take on organic shapes. Many of the lampshades rest on a filigree tripod frame
, which makes the design appear particularly airy and light. Vitra dispenses with superfluous details and does not get carried away by short-lived trends. Instead, the company focuses on enduring, timeless objects that promote well-being at home.
Akari – for Far Eastern flair in your four walls
Akari is by far the largest family of lamps from Vitra. The collection includes paper luminaires in many different, mostly organic shapes. The body of the lamp is made of translucent Japanese paper, known as shoji paper. For this, designer Isamu Noguchi was inspired by Japanese rice paper lanterns before creating the first model in 1951. The name Akari, by the way, is no coincidence: this is the Japanese term for brightness and light.
The lamps are made in Gifu, a large city in Japan. There, the family-run manufactory Ozeki manufactures the products in elaborate handwork. The result is impressive: Through the paper shade, the soft light radiates diffusely and glare-free to all sides. While the pendant, floor and floor lamps of the product family offer atmospheric room lighting, the Akari table lamps are recommended for use on bedside tables or sideboards.
Potence – purist wall lamp with industrial character
Potence is a minimalist masterpiece by Jean Prouvé. The French architect and designer designed the extraordinary wall lamp in 1947, initially for his own home. The outwardly radically reduced lamp has a slender, elongated wall mount from which a long tubular steel arm and a thin steel wire emanate. The light source is completely exposed and can thus distribute its light unhindered in all directions.
Due to the robust material and the almost raw-looking design, the wall lamp exudes industrial charm. Its swiveling arm comes in the large version to a projection of over 200 cm, the smaller version manages it at least to more than 100 cm. Thus, the lamp is ideal for decentralized lighting of your dining, couch or desk.
Discover different types of lamps from Vitra
