For the sixth consecutive year, Swarovski Crystal Palace have revealed 19 exciting new designs at this year’s Salone Internazionale del Mobile. Challenged to reinvent the chandelier, leading contemporary designers and artists from around the world have used their skills to experiment with Swarovski crystals and produce dazzling creations. Whether they use nature as their source of inspiration, or choose to marry cutting edge technology with contemporary design, the results have always thrilled and captivated.
Black & Lite by Amanda Levete / Future Systems – The continuous looped line of Black & Lite forms a twisted surface in super light carbon fibre through which lines of LEDs are revealed by Swarovski crystals embedded in the glossy black skin. Derived from a mathematical 3-D Harmonograph , which has been stretched and manipulated to create an orchid like form, the structure is so lightweight it twists in response to any air movement. The surface folds in on itself revealing inside and outside faces. The sparkle from the crystal light is on one face only so mysteriously appears and disappears according to the twist of the shape.
Tornado by Kengo Kuma – Architect Kengo Kuma’s design features a large acrylic bowl suspended in the air and filled with water and Swarovski crystals. The blower within the bowl moves the crystals around like a Tornado, creating a dream-like effect. Kuma describes the crystals as being free’ and not restricted by wires.
Dream Saver by Arne Quinze – Inspiration for Dream Saver came from Arne Quinze’s desire to revert the experience of looking at crystals from the outside and using them as a source of reflection. Quinze’s aim is to use the emotional capacity of Swarovski crystal to absorb and release the energy and dreams of people. By doing so, the crystals look at the viewer and become a form of energy by turn. Shaped for speed and motion, when walking through Dream Saver, visitors experience the magic of the crystals and at the same time feel the energy of the previous visitors. The structure is 12m long and 3m high and is made using a wooden and metal frame coated in eight layers of multi-structured fiberglass sheets coated in a Ceralic metallic lacquer. Inside, there are six projection units and hanging from it are 5.5km of Swarovski crystal strands.
Source: Swarovski Crystal Palace
