Atelier Areti will be showing a number of pieces from the Elements Collection during Milan Design Week. Join us in Brera, where we are participating in an installation curated by H+O.

Date and Location

6th-12th June

Via Solferino 11, 3rd floor, Brera District, Milan

THE ELEMENTS COLLECTION

The collection results from a simple and concise design exercise.

When paired down to the essentials, most lights are made of 3 components:

1 - the illuminating element

2 - the base (foot / wall / ceiling rose)

3 - the stem / arm in between

Examples of such lights in their simplest form would be the classic globe pendant or the classic floor light with a cone illuminating the ceiling. In the archetype, the base is usually a round pill box, the arm is usually a tube, and the illuminating element is either a globe, a cone or a strip.

Our aim was to take one of these 3 elements and to transform it such that it would give the archetype a new identity.

By only intervening on one element, we challenge ourselves to focus on finding something new within an overall form that is familiar; we retain the basic concept of the archetypal light, while creating new unique interpretations.

The interventions had to be simple, yet powerful.

The pieces lead the observer to a double take. Past the initial quick perception of the familiar, a sense of unrest demands a second look.

By focusing on reinterpreting one element, as well as retaining only 3 overall components, we can develop in extraordinary depth how each element is proportioned, detailed and fabricated.

The second defining concept of the Elements series is to use color as an additional dimension to further express the novelty of each simple composition.

It is the first time that we have used color across all series of one collection. The simplicity of the composition allowed for color to play a clarifying role. Adding color to a design can either strengthen or weaken the design.

Adding color to an already complex shape might weaken the overall composition.

If the strength of the design already lies in its form, balance, interaction between various parts, adding color can weaken the design by distracting from the main expression.

In the Elements series however, the strength of the composition is based on the new relationship between 3 simple elements, and in this context color serves to highlight this theme.

The Elements collection is composed of 10 families of lights.

552 PROFILES

The Profiles series replaces the usual round tube with an unusual profile for the stem.

The first iteration of this series uses an undulating shape with soft waves that create soft shadows and light reflections along the stem.

553 OUTLINES

The Outlines series replaces the typical round foot / ceiling rose with a more particular outline.

The shapes derive from modifications on the original round shape, by using for example addition or subtraction of arches along the perimeter of the circle.

555 TUBE WITH GLOBES AND CONES

This light is centered around a thick tube with either globes or cones. All elements in this light are solid and relatively similar in size. The stem is not a thin filigree element, but rather a volume, just as the globe or cone. This gives the light the appearance of a composition of volumes. In this composition, color takes on an important role.

556 OFF CENTER

By offsetting the central stem to the side, this very familiar composition takes on a new character. It remains a simple light, but the asymmetry creates a more sculptural character.

557 ARRAY

The Array light has an unfamiliar form and stands out as a sculptural object. Light emerges from the short tubes attached to the long main tube.

559 ASYMPTOTE

Asymptote is a simple light where the base merges into the tube along a smooth curve.

560 PARALLEL TUBES

The Parallel Tubes light is composed of several thin tubes of varying color. They are arranged horizontally or vertically, depending on the type.

561 TUBE AND RECTANGLE

Two long elements, one with a round and one with a rectangular profile are combined to create a simple composition. A version with a globe attached to the circular tube exists as well.