my design fix

C is for Castiglioni

This is the third post in a series of 26 on modern design icons (inspired by the Alphabet of Design Classics Poster by Blue Ant Studios.)

Italian brothers Achille (1918-2002) (pictured right) and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni (1913-1968) are considered one of the great innovative design partnerships in modern industrial design. Both studied architecture at Milan Polytechnic but due to the lack of architecture commissions in Italy immediately after WWII focused much of their attention to industrial design.

Arco Floor Lamp (1962)

The “Arco” is an iconic floor lamp designed in 1962 by  Achille and Peir Giacomo and can be found in many a modern lounge room throughout the world. Linking the qualities of both a floor lamp and a hanging lamp, the “Arco” satisfies the need for direct light on a table without having to be fixed to the ceiling.

The base of the lamp is carved from white marble and weighs approximately 65kg. Such a heavy base was required to achieve the 2.2m cantilever and marble was an economical choice at the time due to its abundance in Italy. A hole through the sides of the base serves two purposes –  a fixing point for the stainless steel stem and a space to insert a long object such as a broomstick so the lamp can be easily moved.

The arched stem is made of three pieces of stainless steel which can telescope into one another, enabling the light to be set at three different heights and concealing the wiring.

The lamp’s reflector is made of two pieces of aluminium: a perforated fixed dome and a swivelling ring for adjusting the direction of light.

The Arco floor lamp has been manufactured by the Italian lighting company, Flos since its founding in 1962.

For more info on the Arco lamp and Achille Castiglioni visit:

• www.flos.com
• www.achillecastiglioni.it
• www.designmuseum.org

Related Post:

• Alphabet of Design Classics Poster – Blue Ant Studios
• A is for Aalto – Aalto Vase (1936)
• B is for Bertoia – Diamond Lounge (1950)