Cabinet Bestiarium at Vertigo Bird

Milan 2011: Slovenian lighting brand Vertigo Bird present new lamps by designers including Mathias Hahn, Uli Budde and A + A Cooren as part of Tortona Design Week in Milan.

Hahn's design, called Jinn, is based on the form of an oil or gas lamp, while Uli Budde's Balloon design reflects light off a plate ballooning out of it's cylindrical base.

A + A Cooren's Hippo lamp can be angled by changing the position of the shade on its magnetic base.

Called Cabinet Bestiarium, the show presents the new collection in wooden cages with cut-out flora and fauna designed by Ljubljana studios Bevk Perovic Arhitekti and graphic designers Luks Lab.

The installation is on show at Opificio courtyard in Via Tortona 31 until 17 April.

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The information below is from Vertigo Bird and Bevk Perovic Arhitekti:

Vertigo Bird, a young Slovene lighting brand, is proud to present its new collection of lights during Milano Furniture Fair, at Opificio courtyard in Via Tortona 31, under a project title Cabinet Bestiarium. Cabinet Bestiarium project has been conceived by Bevk Perovic arhitekti in association with graphic designers Luks Lab, both from Ljubljana.

The new Vertigo collection, including some items from previous seasons, is 'imprisoned' in 4 birdcage-like objects, taking over the small space in Via Tortona 31 Opificio courtyard.

Directly inspired by the natural museum's dioramas, each wooden 'birdcage' cabinet presents a series of lighting fixtures in a jungle-like setting, the natural environment of the Vertigo Bird's Bird/Beast Chimeras, designed especially for the occasion by Luks Lab.

New lights presented during this years' Fair include proposals by international group of designers - Mathias Hahn (Jinn table lamps), A+A Cooren (Hippo - a collection of floor, table, wall and suspension lamps), Ulli Budde (Baloon table and wall lamps) and Bevk Perovic arhitekti (Bikini ceiling lamps), as well as brand new items from Vertigo's Naked Collection, a collection of 'anonimous' lighting fixtures devised by Smoke Detektors. Some of the 'oldies' from previous collections will also be shown, complementing the Cabinet Bestiarium setting.

JINN

Jinn is a floor and table lamp, based on the idea to create a reinterpretation of a classic decorative lamp comprising a base and lamp shade. In opposition to the traditional build of a central structure holding the shade and light source in place, Jinn is deconstructing this typology by removing the stem. The metal shade is supported by a glass piece that is mounted on top of the base. The light source itself is located in the base so that the light is reflected from the lamp shade and emits through the glass. Being reminiscent of oil or gas lamps the control for dimming and switching is positioned on the base of the lamp. Using the wheel on the side, the intensity of light can be adjusted in a very intuitive manner.

Design: Mathias Hahn
Material: glass, metal
Colours: white, warm grey

BALLOON

Balloon owes elements of its form to the typical antique oil lamps and candle holders with a reflector placed behind the flame to reflect and direct the light. Besides, the natural occurrence of what we often consider the moon to be a light source (next to e.g. fire and the sun) although it is just a reflected light from the sun, gave further stimulus to work with idea of the indirect light. LED light source is situated inside lamp´s cylindrical base. Light shines upwards and enlightens the reflector, which tilts forwards, re-directing and reflecting a diffused glimmer of light. It is available in table and wall version.

Through its simplicity and figurative character, the lamp leaves room for associations and fantasy – is it a balloon soaring into the air, a small glowing sun or an oversized light bulb?

Design: Uli Budde
Material: metal
Colours: white, yellow

HIPPO

As joyful as a hippo’s head and as playful as a magnet, Hippo is never exactly in the same position as everything in nature. Hippo is a series of lamps attached on a magnetic spindle. The rounded glass volume with the reflective metal calyx stays stable by the pull of magnetism.

Hippo is unique, friendly, poetic and full of personality with endless possibilities of arrangements in the interior space. Easy to be set and changed by the user, it possesses a sculptural and modern presence with its soft and cozy diffused light.