The spotlight is usually a functional affair: a tool to draw attention to a specific object. However, nothing says this form of illumination must be subordinate to the object it illuminates: With its elegant, conical shape, the spotlight can easily be considered an aesthetic object in its own right.
This idea has inspired architect Sou Fujimoto, who recently created a “forest” of vertical spotlights for Milan Design Week. In this installation, which was developed in partnership with the clothing company COS, lighting is not the backdrop of the environment but the focus.
A fog machine and soundtrack add to the sylvan atmosphere of the Forest of Light. Carefully placed mirrors obscure the boundaries of the space, creating what COS described as an “immersive, infinite landscape.” Apart from a few minimalist tables, the space is empty save the cones of light, which interact with visitors’ movements. Like the trees they are meant to represent, Fujimoto’s lights are conceived as dynamic, living things.
“The COS pavilion is the purest realization of the concept of forest, which is not static,” explained Fujimoto. “Light and visitors interact with each other and this synergy creates a bond between fashion, the space and the forest, as a form of architecture.”
The Forest of Light is housed in Cinema Arti, a former theater. It is open to visitors through Sunday, April 17. Watch this space for more coverage of Milan Design Week, coming soon to Architizer!
All images courtesy of COS