‘light species’ lamp by formafantasma for booo! studio

‘light species’ is designed by eindhoven-based italian design studio formafantasma for dutch company booo! as a lamp that bridges the natural and technological worlds. the piece is on exhibition at spazio rossana orlandi during milan design week 2012, alongside a special, one-off edition of the lamp called ‘botanica light species’.

for milan design week 2012, booo! asked three designers to each create two pendant lamps: a special edition and a production model (costing under 100 euro to make) that share an interesting approach to design. formafantasma repeats the shape and organic-like aesthetic of their design across the two versions. ‘light species’, the production model, takes the form of a leaf, produced with a thin translucent material that permits objects placed behind it to be partially visible. the form when viewed from the side involves two separate sheaths that together provide a lampshade, while leaving part of the bulb completely exposed.

booo! studio describes the lamp as appearing ‘as if a traditional bulb has been stopped in the process of transforming into a leaf.‘

the designers of formafantasma, andrea trimarchi and simone farresin, describe and show the design and construction process of both the production and special edition models of ‘light species’

formafantasma: light species for booo! ‘light species’ on exhibition at spazio rossana orlandi for milan design week 2012 image © designboom

formafantasma: light species for booo! back view of the two foils in ‘light species’ lamp

formafantasma: light species for booo! ‘botanica light species’ special edition version of the lamp, on exhibition at milan design week 2012 image © designboom

‘botanica light species’ is the special edition model of the work, retaining the same form as the production model but offering a much more elaborate leaf that references the studio’s ‘botanica’ collection from milan design week 2011. the piece is composed of resin and sawdust, specially treated by the designers and cut and formed into leaf and feather-like shapes.

formafantasma: light species for booo! detail on ‘botanica light species’ image © designboom