Lighting has always played a pivotal role in shaping interiors and architecture. From traditional chandeliers to contemporary luminaires crafted from rich materials such as Carrara marble and quartz, the focus has long been on the fixture rather than the light itself. However, recent advancements in LED technology have shifted this perspective.
Freed from the constraints of screw-in bulbs and conventional lampshades, designers have embraced a new era of illumination, where light itself is no longer an obstacle in design or merely a function – but a design element in its own right.
With precise diffusion, weightless forms, and seamless integration, these innovative lighting collections available from ESS perfectly capture this new age of lighting. Discover more below.
Skynest (2022) – Flos
Skynest, designed by Marcel Wanders for Flos, merges traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation. The design features LED strips woven with textile tubes, creating a basket-like form that is both elegant and technological. Emitting light from one side, its two-tone fabric produces an ethereal effect, enhanced by its modular structure. Made from recycled materials, Skynest can be fully separated for recycling, reflecting Flos’ commitment to sustainability.
Magia (2023) – Davide Groppi
Davide Groppi’s latest Magia collection is a shining example of the Italian design firm’s enduring legacy of innovation and creativity in lighting design. With its 360° adjustable module, this modular suspension lighting system produces both direct and indirect light, while a convex lens transforms the perception of the light source. This lens effect cleverly conceals the light-emitting source, creating a delicate, almost weightless ambiance.
Fleur (2023) – Foscarini
Designed by Rodolfo Dordoni for Foscarini, Fleur is an exercise in contrasts – solid and void, lightness and substance – transforming any space into an intimate, personalised setting. This rechargeable table lamp offers soft illumination combined with the charm of a flower vase, featuring a hollow, transparent glass stem as its luminous body. The lamp, nearly disappearing from view, incorporates an innovative LED circuit with miniaturised components, allowing it to cast a wider beam of light on surfaces, enhancing its atmospheric presence.
Lune d’Acqua (2024) – Artemide
The latest release by Artemide features a brilliant design by Benedetta Tagliabue and Ersilia Vaudo. Lune d’Acqua captures the essence of celestial mystery with its striking sphere and dynamic rings. Drawing inspiration from icy moons, the design features a patented optical principle where LEDs housed in the surrounding ring illuminate the sphere’s interior. When unlit, it remains transparent, but once powered on, the light emanates through micro-incisions, revealing a soft, three-dimensional wave.
Tulip (2022) – Slamp
The ethereal Tulip Collection by Marc Sadler for Slamp transforms illumination into a mesmerising display. Each handcrafted bloom, shaped through Slamp’s signature technoforming process, is suspended by nearly invisible cables and supported by brushed brass stems. Interconnected by intricately woven copper wires that conduct low-voltage electricity, each delicate tulip – measuring just 5cm in diameter – houses a discreet LED source that diffuses light organically. The result is a cascading display where illumination becomes an integral part of the design.
Essenza (2022) – Icone Luce
Designed by Marco Pagnoncelli for Icone Luce, Essenza features a circular aluminium reflector, available in various metallic finishes or solid colours. Acting as a backdrop for two ultra-thin light profiles that are just 7.7mm thick, these elements conceal high-emission LEDs that project indirect light onto the disc. The hidden light sources create a soft yet striking glow, enhancing the contrast between foreground and background. Whether mounted symmetrically or asymmetrically, Essenza plays with light and shadow, transforming walls into dynamic, evolving compositions.
Images via ESS
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