We’re living in a time where it’s becoming more commonplace to have (and demand) multipurpose spaces and multifunctional devices and furnishings. So it’s no stretch that lighting manufacturers would conceptualize products serving a purpose other than just illuminating. While some of them take advantage of the fact that the luminaire is electricity-powered (think: charging ports for your phone), a few have thought along very different lines. Here’s a look at a few of the various smart designs to hit the market within the last year.
Hank by D75 Illuminants Sweden.
D75 Illuminants Sweden: Hank
Designed to be a functional piece of furniture, Hank is both a suspension light and clothes-hanging fixture. The steel-tube luminaire — offered in Cumulus White, New Denim Blue, Curb Gray, or Raw Steel powder coat or lacquer — is sturdy enough to hold up to 52 pounds when properly attached to the ceiling using 15-gauge wire. Its dimmable LED strip has a color temperature of 4,000K and is diffused with an opaque lens. Three lengths are available: 31.5, 39.4, and 47.2 inches.
Karim Rashid’s Kinx for FontanaArte.
FontanaArte: Kinx
Like many of Karim Rashid’s other product designs, this table lamp sports a fluid, playful form consisting of a loop-like head that houses LEDs with adjustable lumen output. Its complementing teardrop-shaped base features an indentation for storing small objects such as jewelry or a smartphone, the latter of which can be charged via the base’s integrated USB port.
X Collection Light Table by RUX.
RUX: X Collection Light Table
As a followup to its well-received Stickbulb LED luminaires, the New York City-based company has introduced a collection that blurs the lines between lighting and furniture all while playing on the tetrahedron. Part of the series is this occasional table whose “stickbulb” base is topped with smoked glass. Measuring 28 inches wide and deep by 23 inches high, the piece is handmade using sustainably sourced ebonized oak and cast brass.
Pablo’s UMA Sound Lantern.
Pablo: UMA Sound Lantern and Contour
Not one, but two new LED fixtures from Pablo are working it: the first is the UMA Sound Lantern, a portable lamp with an integrated wireless speaker that plays audio out the top as well as around the base. After connecting a device via Bluetooth, users can control volume with an intuitive touch-sensitive control. The lamp comprises an impact-resistant polycarbonate shade, silicone-lined base, steel speaker grills, and a smooth-leather hand strap. Meanwhile, Contour is a sleek and slim open-frame table or floor lamp. The empty, open void within is ideal for holding books, personal belongings, and electronic devices that can be charged using Contour’s integrated USB port. Its exterior is offered in white or graphite finish, while the interior can be specified in white oak, walnut, or pearl, graphite, or coal fabric.
Contour, also from Pablo.
Luceplan: Silenzio
Italian architect Monica Armani designed this suspension luminaire that also — you guessed it — absorbs sound. The ring-shaped shade has a quilted interior that conceals acoustic material, while the exterior is covered in a selection of refined wool-nylon Kvadrat fabrics. Lamping can be specified in either LED or fluorescent. Silenzio is available in three sizes: 35.5-, 47-, or 59-inch diameter.
Monica Armani’s Silenzio for Luceplan.
Flos: Chapo
Somewhat DIY, this table lamp by Philippe Starck is a hatstand on which, essentially, the hanged hat becomes a shade. It’s constructed of aluminum and acrylic and measures 15.7 inches high by 4.9 inches deep. A USB port is conveniently integrated within the base.
Philippe Starck’s Chapo for Flos.