Architizer Asks: What’s Your Favorite Light Fixture?

In this edition of Architizer Asks, architects and interior designers across the country sound off on what their current favorite or go-to lighting product is, whether it’s a decorative luminaire or utilitarian fixture. Here’s what they had to say:

Theresa Genovese, Associate Principal
CetraRuddy, New York City
“For the Lincoln Square Synagogue’s sanctuary ceiling, we used hundreds of Philips Lightolier LED pin downlights — 613 in all, which is a reference to a starry sky with the 613 commandments in the Torah.”

Stephanie Goto, Principal
Stephaniegoto, New York City
“My favorite is Tokujin Yoshioka’s Tofu for Yamagiwa. The simplicity and purity of the form and material, enhanced by the single light source, speaks to the clarity of spatial experience that we seek in my studio’s practice.”

Fauzia Khanani, Principal
Foz Design, New York City
“Graypants Classic Scraplights series (also at top) has been a favorite since its introduction as their flagship line. We used the Drop style in combination with the Disc fixture at The Bloc, a recently completed commercial office project. The fixtures’ material, recycled corrugated cardboard, contributed to the overall industrial aesthetic, while the resulting light provided a warm glow to the spaces.”

Stanley Anderson, Associate Principal / Director of Design
Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners, Santa Monica, Calif.
“My favorite is the Metalarte Lewitt M table lamp by Jordi Vecciana. I have specified this lamp for clients as well as for my own home. I consider myself a modern minimalist, and this lamp embodies those qualities for me and is particularly perfect for a bedside lamp. Its light metal frame delicately suspends the classic white round shade, effortlessly, with an option for either incandescent or halogen lamp source.”

Melanie Conant, Director of Interior Design
The Architectural Team, Chelsea, Mass.
“Philips Lightolier’s SlimSurface LED solves many design challenges at once. This fixture offers a recessed lighting profile where specifying recessed is nonviable (e.g. short plenum). Additionally, the energy-efficient LEDs have a good output and color temperature. We’ve specified them in residential units and common spaces for multifamily communities, but, because of their contemporary look and comfortable light distributions, they could be an affordable and attractive solution for commercial and mixed-use settings, as well.”

Grzegorz Kosmal, Principal
IA Interior Architects, Washington, D.C.
“Bertjan Pot’s Heracleum II from Moooi caught my attention when we were looking for something special to bring focus to the attorney lounge in a recent project. The pendant has quite good performance, a reasonable price point, and inherent beauty. It comes in a variety of scales allowing it to be either a single statement or a theme, and it offsets linearity and monotony of typical fixtures by offering a bit of sculptural quality and grace.”

Angie Lee, Principal / Design Director, Interiors
FXFOWLE, New York City
“My unhealthy obsession with the rare Stilnovo +20 globe chandeliers of the 1950s has been mollified by the Apparatus Triad 15 Chandelier in porcelain. Both use a jewelry-like approach to industrial joinery in how they attach the globe lights. Sculpturally, they present a multitude of unique view angles, both organized and organic, as one moves around them. I would use these to anchor a dining table or kitchen, in retail or a hotel lobby.”

Nikoletta Stagias, Interiors Associate
Stonehill and Taylor Architects, New York City
“At the moment, my favorite task lamp is Juniper Design’s Thin. It’s a great example of the less-is-more principle with its straightforward design that enables a wide range of adjustment and light control. The raw brass finish adds a restrained decorative touch to the fixture, and the heavy cast-iron base prevents it from tipping over. It’s rare to find design products that could be described as both elegant and robust, and this has such qualities.”

Danette Ferretti, Senior Associate / Designer
Carrier Johnson + Culture, San Diego
“With the energy standards and the move toward LED dimmable fixtures in the corporate office, one of my favorite ‘go-to’ open-office light fixtures is the Lithonia AL Series 2ALL. This series offers one-by-four-, two-by-two-, and two-by-four-foot fixtures that are fully dimmable and has ‘nLight’ embedded digital controls — offering flexibility now and for future renovations. Additionally, the design and lens quality for the price makes it my first choice.”

Salo Levinas, Principal
Shinberg.Levinas Architects, Washington, D.C.
“Thirty years ago, I moved into a high-ceilinged loft, and a friend lent me the Castiglioni Arco floor lamp (offered through Flos). Its elegance and functionality immediately struct me — from its heavy Carrara base, beveled for protection, to the base hole for easy relocation and the stainless steel periscopic stem. Its sophistication and classic modern look led me to use it in residential and commercial projects.”

Joshua Zinder and Marlyn Zucosky, Partners
JZA+D, Princeton, N.J.
“We love the bulb-shaped handblown glass of Tech Lighting’s Quinton Pendant. The LED version is especially appealing for its clever ‘meta’ touch: an etched detail recreates the look of an incandescent filament. Elegant, yet efficient, this old-school look would fit beautifully in a restaurant with a retro style. We’ve also specified a similar fixture as an accent light in an office interior.”

Jorge Mastropietro, Principal and Founder
Jorge Mastropietro Architects Atelier, New York City
“The Channel AC4 linear LED from Acolyte LED provides warmth and form to any interior. The recessed profile creates the effect of natural light, so it’s perfect for otherwise gloomy spaces. The linear shape also makes the fixture ideal for providing directionality in larger settings like common areas and lobbies.”