Italian lighting manufacturer Flos has collaborated with Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for a dramatic new collection that incorporates LED lighting with a weave of leather straps.
The aptly named Belt collection by the Bouroullec Brothers looks deceptively simple, but it integrates an innovative connection system that has been developed to achieve a sinuous line without apparent interruptions, the company says.
“Belt by the Bouroullec’s is pure unification,” says Flos. “A sinuous line whose design strikes balance between the softness of natural leather and the rigidity of a linear aluminum housing and electrical cables.”
[ Read More: AN INTERACTIVE SPEAKER LIGHT THAT MIMICS THUNDER AND LIGHTING ]
The architectural lighting collection is a direct/indirect pendant with independent user dimming control of the uplight and the downlight. It can be specified in up to two runs in either 89 inches or 118 inches and can be fed from a single feed point for a dramatic presentation.
Leather is the heart of the project, Flos says, adding that it’s a soft and warm material that guarantees freedom in the space but, at the same time, is characterized by certain rigidity. The leather is treated with natural dyes to obtain the three finishes available in the range.
“The line can grow into the space, rotate, raise or fall,” the French design duo says of the product line. “Of course the leather is a key for Belt, it has some freedom, but also a certain stiffness, that makes the line harmonious.”
[ Read More: DESIGNER DAVID TRUBRIDGE REINTRODUCES CLOUD AND EBB LIGHT FIXTURES ]
Each element of the product is controlled by the leather straps, some of them supporting the weight of the device, others carrying electricity, and some containing light. The initial section of each composition descends from the ceiling or rises from the wall, or even from the floor, and then hangs thanks to dedicated straps.
“The best position for a light source is always unexpected, also its connection to the electrical source,” the brothers say. “Following the same approach that AIM has proven true, Belt is flexibility, so its nature is a balance between soft and rigid. The soft element are the connection sections, the rigid parts are the light source, long LED beam. Belt is a line that can progress endlessly.”
The leather straps in the fixture uses a simple fastening and hanging system. It is done by sliding the leather straps through dedicated metal buckles that act as ceiling hooks. Each strap can be adjusted to respect the configuration of the environment. A special micro-connector integrated in the terminal of the lighting profile allows the electrical connection to be made with a simple click. The connection element is hidden inside the leather strap that acts as a suspension to support the composition.
[ Read More: BUSTER + PUNCH LAUNCHES NEW LIGHTING COLLECTION CALLED EXHAUST ]
The product has a color temperature of 2700k or 3000K and a color rendering index of 95. It is available in profile lengths of 6 feet 7 inches and 9 feet 10 inches long in black, natural leather, and green finishes.
Belt made a splashy debut at the 2019 Euroluce exhibition, part of the Salone del Mobile.Milano in Italy, with large crowds gathering at the booth to see and touch the product. IAs of August 2020, the product is available for purchase in the U.S. market arch.flosusa.com.
[ Read More: 7 LIGHTING BRANDS YOU MAY NOT KNOW BUT SHOULD ]
