Illuminate me

When it comes to interior design (or better) interior architecture, I think no-one can disagree when I say that lighting is the most important thing. Let's leave a side the styling, the volumes, the colours, the arredo and furniture.. because every single thing loses it's importance when the light is absent. The right illumination, it's everything.
It's amazing how much you can play with your room with good (read: right) lighting: from underlining the key-elements of the decor or just hiding the defects to creating different atmospheres and shaping the space as you want.

The illumination sources not always are visibilly seen and not necessarily are main decor-elements of a room, as it used to be before the use of electricity. From the 15th century till 19th the chandelier, besides being the main source of light, was also the decorative focal element of the room and because of the high cost of night time illumination it has always been a sort of a symbol of status and luxury.
A side this, I find it's rather cozy in a room where you can see the lighting source. Don't you think?

But let me get to the main point of this post- Swarovski has totally understood the conception of "light" and chandelier, especially the part of "..the bigger is your chandelier, the more noble is your status..", and for many years for now the Austrian Crystal company has worked with many famous designers to produce elegant and rather breath-taking illumination installations under the label of Swarovski Crystal Palace. (check!)

"Miss Haze" and "Lolita" both by Ron Arad for Swarovski Crystal Palace.

"Swarovski Crystal Palace is a revolutionary project that has aimed to create a signature interpretations of light and design using the emotive medium of crystal. Whilst celebrating and reinterpreting the rich traditions of the chandelier, Swarovski Crystal Palacahas broken barriers, played with the rules and opened a new chapter in the history of lightening, art and design. Now in it's eight year, Swarovski Crystal Palace has worked with some of the world's foremost and collectable designers including Zaha Hadid, Yves Behar, Studio Job, Ross Lovegrove, Tom Dixon, Ron Arad, Tokujin Yoshioka and Fernando and Humberto Campana."
- Nadja Swarovski, Vice President International Comunications, Swarovski.

There are different collection-lines: Commercial, Limited Edition, One of a Kind and Custom made. Now enough of talking, just take a look of these wonderful- wonderful pieces of art, all unique and heavenly beautiful!

"Light Sculpture" by Zaha Hadid, Custom Made.


"Light Sculpture"


"Light Sculpture"

"Light Sculpture"

"Glitterbox", Georg Baldele, Commercial Collection.

"Glitterbox"

"Cascade" by Vincent van Duysen, Commercial Collection.

"Cascade"

Yves Behar, I didn't find the title. It should be part of the Commercial Collection.


"Hover" by Michael Gabellini with B&B Italia. (this is not Swarovski)


"Liquid Space" by Ross Lovegrove, Custom Made.


"Liquid Space"


"Liquid Space"


"Liquid Space"


no fantasy needed here- the title is "Ball", by Tom Dixon, Commercial Collection, mini version.


"Ball"


"Ball"


"Ice Furniture Stool" by Tord Boontje, Commercial Collection.


"Lolita" by Ron Arad, The Limited Edition.


"Lolita"


"Pandora" by Fredrikson Stallard.


"Pandora"


"Globe" by Studio Job, The Limited Edition.


"Globe", at the Viktor&Rolf S/S '10 fashion show, the one I posted about here (check!).


"Mini Voyage" by Yves Behar, Commercial Collection.


"Mini Voyage"


"Voyage" by Yves Behar.


"Voyage"


"Dream Saver", by Arno Quinze, One of a Kind.
This is my personal favourite.
Really beautiful.


"Mediterraneo" by Gaetano Pesce, One of a Kind.
This should move as it's programmed to change shape thanks to the music beat.. for more information you should check from the web, it's something I read a long time a go;)


"Mediterraneo".

Which was your favourite one?
Mine was Voyage by Yves Behar;)