Artemide: CRIOSFERA by Giulia Foscari

Giulia Foscari is many things: she is an architect and curator, but she is also an activist. Inspired by research into the cryosphere, she has now designed a luminaire for Artemide whose shape and lighting effect were inspired by a drilled ice core. A vast amount of data is stored in the geological layers of ice, providing scientists with information about past climatic conditions. In Foscari's design for "Criosfera", the outer cylinder of hand-blown glass conceals the luminous core inside. With great craftsmanship, engravings are made in the hot glass before blowing, which creates the spherical appearance. An aluminium body is positioned inside, laser-cut in such a way that the light shines through but the technical body remains hidden. "Criosfera" can be placed on three different holders that are reminiscent of the instruments used to extract the ice cores: as a floor lamp, as a horizontal or vertical table lamp. Artemide has thus created an autonomous interior object that symbolises the poetry inherent in both nature and technology. (eb)