100 years of Achille Castiglioni_Lampadina

Today is the 100th birthday of Achille Castiglioni and we want to celebrate him talking about Lampadina, to thank him for his brilliant ideas that allowed us to fill our houses by happy objects!

This lamp was designed on the occasion of the inauguration of the FLOS store in Turin in 1972, one of the historical pieces designed by Achille Castiglioni for Flos in 1971 and still produced by the great Italian company confirming its successful partnership. Just another example of how Castiglioni’s creative genius, with its ironic and functional design objects, has given rise to iconic products.

Objects like this are a tribute to simplicity. Great projects always born from simple and essential things, however small they may be! Lampadina is 24 cm high and has a diameter of 12.5 cm! The observation of reality, the attention to how objects are used, the relationship they have with people, a little ‘of rationality and always a pinch (but also more than a pinch!) of irony, combined with technology and new materials are the ingredients that are always present in Achille Castiglioni’s creations.

Lampadina is one of those lamps that have made the history of Italian industrial design. Born as a table lamp, very essential: it is a wire wrapping at the base, a lamp holder with switch, a bulb lamp. Assembling three essential pieces together has never been easier! But the story behind it and the details, fascinate even more. Just from the story of his daughter Giovanna, we learn of the presence of a “film rewinder” on the Achille’s table, who was there, without finding a definite place, wandering but never put aside because, according to the father, it had to stay there, waiting for it to “grow up”.

According to Giovanna Castiglioni: “Dad loved living things, living objects, recovering them …” And so having it under his eyes every day and often handling it that finally had his revenge! From being a reel that wraps the film, the anodized aluminum base turns into a retractor of the electric cable, the on / off switch is placed on the bakelite lamp holder and the glass lamp is sanded on one side to prevent direct light blinds users! Obviously, as in almost all Castiglioni’s projects, an hole is hidden here too! And it is on the base to allow the bulb to be a wall lamp as well as a table lamp! Lampadina can also be hung!

It is impossible not to want it!

On this occasion we remind you that the Achille Castiglioni Foundation in Piazza Castello in Milan, from February 19th to April 30th 2018 will host the exhibition “100×100 Achille“. The Foundation for the occasion of the centenary has created an unusual project curated by Chiara Alessi and Domitilla Dardi: some of the most important designers in the world have been invited to choose a gift for Achille, which they sent together with a personalized greeting card . The 100 gifts are all anonymous objects, such as those that Castiglioni has collected for life, and which will enrich the already large collection. Objects different for gender, material or type, but united by the same design intelligence.

Go to visit Milan even just for it!

Happy birthday Achille and 100 of these days!

#weLoveAchille