149
Uto
Twiggy
Tress
Aplomb
Kurage
Spokes
Plena
Satellight
Foscarini
Chap. 3 — Design as research
Spokes is characterized by its soft shapes and
lightweight volume which contains the light
and allows it to fi lter out into the room.
Vicente Garcia Jimenez and Cinzia
Cumini drew their inspiration simply by
observing a bicycle wheel to come up with
the shape of the ‘lanterns’, or oriental
aviaries, in the Spokes collection of
lightweight, wire frame suspension lamps.
The spokes of a bicycle wheel became a
soft and simple graphic feature that they
multiplied to obtain an almost hypnotic
effect in the alternating blocks and voids.
The effect in the surrounding setting is
packed with charm: the two LED light
sources point in opposite directions,
downwards, illuminating a worktop or table,
and towards the heart of the lamp shining
a diffused light and projecting a pattern of
light and shadow all around the space.
The combination of these lighting
technology and construction requirements,
with the graphic effect of the shadows
projected onto the wall, gives added value
to the interiors while adding plenty of
character to the lamp, making it ideal for
use in both residential and collective
settings where it often plays the starring role.
In Spokes, as if in an oxymoron, the
theme of light weight is combined with the
solidity of the shape, with accentuated
clean-cut forms: the charm of this particular
lamp is in fact also due to the absence of
a visible electrical cable. To achieve this
result, the use of LED technology was
crucial, with two boards powered at very
low voltage by two opposing spokes of the
cage, thanks to a clever technical device.
Different shape versions accommodate
a variety of tastes and needs to fi t into
various rooms: an elongated shape, a
version reminiscent of a lantern and a
version with a wide and squashed shape,
all in different sizes. The matt colour fi nish
also plays a role in distinguishing the overall
look, enhancing the dense mesh work.
Spokes is suitable for use in scenic
compositions by replicating the same model
or in compositions with the other shapes
in the family.
Spokes /2015 — design Garcia Cumini
About shedding light
149
Vicente Garcia Jimenez and Cinzia Cumini
were inspired by observing the spokes of a
bicycle wheel, hence the name of the project.
