Full Of Feeling And Poetry - The New Lamps At The International Furntiture Fair

Furniture World Magazine

Really, furniture designers should be green with envy. Of their colleagues who design luminaires and enjoy so much artistic freedom when doing so. The latest trends in lighting will be presented in the "Lighting Centre" at the INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR in Cologne (18 th to 24 th January 1999). Today, lamps positively radiate creative energy, giving the room a "warm" cosiness and humanity. Some of them can even create a poetic atmosphere, otherwise created only by the sun, moon and stars. And they, of course, are not available at the flick of a switch. For some time now, the design avantgarde have also been putting the lampshade back on the bulb - something long decried as terribly bourgeois. Soft light with its cosy atmosphere is back again and present in many different variations. The lampshades are of all kinds of materials: old-fashioned folded material, translucent plastic, celluloid-like material and glass, used today either soft satin-frosted or in rich colours. For purists, there is of course also clear glass or frosted glass, now in the minimal design look combined with dull aluminium, but with a soft, gentle light. Technically speaking, it is often only a case of a thin flex breaking ranks or an ingenious cable reel providing the formal counterpoint, in addition to adjustable height. Even names are nowadays part of the design of a beautiful "light". Almost every new lamp has its own name. Dazzling "Elvis" stands beside slim "Romeo", look around and you'll find a Samurai in a pleated, paper costume and, somewhere, Diana is also shining. This is no mere coincidence. The new lamps have their own genuine personality, charm and, often, their own individual aura. Sometimes they can be likened to housemates or good spirits; some even come alive like "Poppy", the dreamy daisy. After switching her on, the blossom slowly opens. The secret of this small wonder -the material of which the petals are made reacts to the heat of the illuminant. The trend in lamps for private residences today is definitely towards creating atmosphere. Variable, pleasant light for body and soul, for dreams and reality, is what is in demand. A real creative drive is discernible in the case of traditional lighting too. The classical types such as floor, table and pendant lamps have kept their noble appearance while gaining a touch of modern flair and class. Brass chandeliers with delicate web patterns are on show, graceful pendant lamps can be moved along a thin rod, sculptured feet of finely-polished solid wood set in metal, support a satin-frosted glass shade. Lamp designers turn their attention not only to creating a pleasant atmosphere of light and agreeable form, but also to the room temperature. An Italian hit on the brilliant idea of combining light and ventilation. The result is a beautiful, luminous "void" with three transparent coloured wings. A feeling of summer in the middle of January! Ingo Maurer, that "Magician of Light" as he is known internationally, was, on the other hand, probably thinking more of dull days and long evenings when he "invented" his book-end lamp. We can readily assume that there is not a single aspect of light on which the last creative word has been spoken. The INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR 1999 will be open from Monday, 18th to Sunday, 24th January 1999, daily from 09.00 to 18.00 hrs. From 18th to 22nd January, admission is open to trade visitors only. These include persons who are professionally involved in the production or sale of furniture, lighting and furnishings. Also classed as trade visitors are architects, interior designers and designers who are professionally involved in design, planning and production in these specialist areas. Proof of such professional involvement must be shown when purchasing admission tickets. On Saturday, 23rd and Sunday, 24th January, the INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR will also be open to end-consumers. These days open to the general public provide interested consumers with the opportunity to inform themselves about the latest furniture ranges and the international range of home lighting and to obtain ideas for subsequent purchases from the retail trade. No sales to end-consumers are made at the INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR.