Light fingers

Some other well-known names such as Foscarini (which presented the Big Bang ceiling light, designed by Enrico Franzolini and Vicente Garcia Jimenez) chose to have a more discreet presence, perhaps reflecting the relatively subdued economic environment with which light designers are having to grapple with.

Away from Euroluce’s stifling halls, two particularly extravagant light designs were on show. At Sawaya & Moroni’s Milan showrooms, the Vortexx chandelier designed by Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher was on display. At Swarovski, Ron Arad attempted to recreate the magic of last year’s Lolita chandelier with Miss Haze, again blending new technologies with crystal to dramatic effect.

To coincide, four areas in Milan’s Brera district received a lighting makeover courtesy of four Italian design groups (including Piero Castiglioni), working with a Milanese celebrity and a design critic.