ACHILLE CASTIGLIONI, 1972
Object
Achille Castiglioni’s Lampadina was designed by the master of Italian design in 1972 for the inauguration of the Flos store in Turin.
Since then, Lampadina has remained one of the master’s products still in production, a simple and ironic object that has enjoyed great success in terms of both public reception and sales.
Certain construction features make Lampadina an unusual and ingenious object, characteristic of much of Achille Castiglioni’s work. The anodized aluminum base is inspired by old film reels, and just as those reels wound up film, this base serves not only as a stand but also as a cord winder. Additionally, it is equipped with holes that allow Lampadina to be mounted on the wall.
Another important element is the light bulb, the focal point of the object. (Today, the bulb is an LED, in keeping with Flos’s policy of continually updating products with the latest technologies while maintaining the original design.)
The bulb is presented without a lampshade but with a frosted glass section to prevent glare. In this way, Castiglioni manages to create an object that fully adheres to his principles of functionality and expressiveness, removing elements from the design rather than adding them.
In Lampadina, it is clear how his principles of functionality and erase, erase, erase, and in the end find a main design component. While we were designing, we were against the intrusion of design; we were searching for the minimal trait that served the function: we wanted to reach the point where we could say: you can’t do less than this.
Achille Castiglioni's Lampadina: Cultural Impact
Lampadina is one of Castiglioni’s objects still in production today. While it hasn’t had the same cultural impact as other lamps by the Castiglioni brothers, such as Arco, Taccia, or Snoopy, it embodies the principles with which Achille Castiglioni designed wonderful objects throughout his life.
Lampadina is a simple, handy object, friendly even in price. This has made it one of his most widespread creations in Italian homes and also one of the most copied. Castiglioni wasn’t the first to propose the Edison bulb, and this form has come to be quite widespread in contemporary production – to the point of becoming quite tiresome. Still, in its time, and with the irconic element represented by the base, Lampadina still stands as one of the most beloved designs of the prestigious producer Flos.
The Lampadina in Museums
Regarding museums and collections, Lampadina has traveled the world and, like many other Castiglioni designs, is part of the permanent collections of the most prestigious design museums globally. Notably, it is included in the MoMA in New York, the Triennale di Milano, and many others.
Achille Castiglioni
Achille Castiglioni (1918-2002) was a master of Italian design. Among his most famous creations are the Arco and Taccia lamps and the Mezzadro stool. His intelligent and ironic approach combines functionality, technical innovation, and aesthetics, making him one of the most influential designers of the 20th century.
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 dimensions of Castiglioni’s Lampadina:
- Diameter: 125 mm
- Height: 240 mm
Anodized aluminum base, which also functions as a reel for the electrical cable.
Bakelite lamp holder, with liquid painting for the orange color.
Globolux clear glass bulb with partial sandblasting on one side of the sphere.
