Philippe Malouin, 2023
Object
Bilboquet is an adjustable table lamp born from the collaboration between Canadian designer Philippe Malouin and Flos. Its name comes from a traditional French game dating back to the 16th century, and just like that old pastime, Bilboquet is built around the idea of movement and interaction.
The lamp’s defining feature is its rotating head, connected to the body through a magnetic sphere that allows for precise light adjustment.
Designed for a generation that thrives in flexible, dynamic spaces—Millennials who frequently move between cities and often live in apartments where optimizing space is essential—Bilboquet seamlessly adapts to both work and home environments, combining functionality with playfulness in a single object.
Its minimalist design and use of sustainable materials make it one of the most compelling lamps in contemporary design.
Project, Design Materials
Bilboquet was born from the idea of using magnetic ball joints to create a versatile and intuitive lamp. Two colored cylinders are connected by a magnetic sphere, allowing the head to rotate and precisely direct the light.
The light source is an LED bulb with an integrated cut-off, ideal for providing direct yet comfortable illumination. Malouin designed Bilboquet to be both practical and enjoyable to use, naturally adapting to the user’s movements.
The body is made of polycarbonate derived from paper by-products, reducing environmental impact and meeting ISCC standards. With sustainability in mind, Bilboquet’s design eliminates the need for glue, making future recycling easier.
Awards
Bilboquet was named Lighting Design of the Year at the Dezeen Awards 2024, recognized for its blend of contemporary aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability.
The judges praised the design for its versatility, achieved with a minimal number of components, making it both familiar and innovative. Beyond its awards, Bilboquet has quickly become one of Flos’ most acclaimed lamps, embodying the playful and dynamic approach that defines contemporary design.
FLOS
Flos is a lighting and lamp manufacturer founded in Merano in 1962 by Dino Gavina and Cesare Cassina. After relocating to Brianza, Flos quickly began producing culturally significant design objects, such as the iconic Parentesi, Arco, and Taccia by the Castiglioni brothers, as well as Drop 2 by Marc Sadler and the MayDay by Konstantin Grcic. Flos design objects are collected by design museums worldwide and have won numerous international awards and recognitions.
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Details
Produced by Flos
The original Bilboquet lamp is available ONLINE on NordicNest >
- Height: 20.3 cm
- Width: 6 cm
- Length: 10.4 cm
Aluminum and polycarbonate derived from paper by-products.
