Hasta La Ideas

Designed in Hackney: Hackney designer Lee Broom will launch crystal light bulbs cut like whiskey decanters at Ventura Lambrate in Milan next week.

The hand-blown bulbs come with standard screw fittings and throw decorative patterns onto surrounding walls when illuminated.

Broom previously made a series of lights out of vintage decanters, which you can see here.

The designer will present Crystal Bulb at Lee Broom Public House, his solo exhibition that will be styled like a British pub.

The Ventura Lambrate design district is open from 17 to 22 April. Download the free map and guide here and see all our stories about Ventura Lambrate 2012 here.

Here’s some more information from Broom:

LAUNCH OF CRYSTAL BULB, LEE BROOM
SALONE DEL MOBILE 2012

This April, critically acclaimed British product and interior designer, Lee Broom, will launch Crystal Bulb as part of his first, solo exhibition in Milan during the Salone Del Mobile – Lee Broom Public House.

Taking inspiration from the delicate craftsmanship of crystal cutting, and following Broom’s hugely successful Decanterlight, Crystal Bulb combines industrial influences with decorative qualities, transforming the everyday light bulb into an ornamental light fitting.

Individually hand blown, each Crystal Bulb is cut with the decanter pattern and etched with a Lee Broom logo. Broom has collaborated with experts at Cumbria Crystal in the UK, keeping true to his signature design ethos of working with British craftsmen.

Crystal Bulb casts beautiful shadows across a room. It is designed to fit any standard ceiling, wall or lamp fitting, and can be hung solo or in clusters, as well as used with a light shade to create enchanting light effects.

On designing the Crystal Bulb Lee Broom says “I wanted to create a light bulb as a more accessible design product and incorporating cut crystal seemed the most logical design as this has become a familiar style within my product ranges.”

Crystal Bulb complements Broom’s Public House exhibition at the Salone Del Mobile. Inspired by the age-old institution of the British pub, with a multi-dimensional, surreal twist, Public House will bring a truly British experience to the Ventura Lambrate Design district. In collaboration with renowned international Scotch whisky, Ballantine’s 12 Year Old, Broom will also showcase an exclusive serving ritual, influenced by vintage crystal whisky decanters.

Lee Broom Public House
Via Ventura NR.5
20134, Milano

Lee’s London studio is on Rivington Street in Shoreditch, so we were neighbours during Dezeen Space last autumn.

Key:

Blue = designers
Red = architects
Yellow = brands

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Designed in Hackney is a Dezeen initiative to showcase world-class architecture and design created in the borough, which is one of the five host boroughs for the London 2012 Olympic Games as well as being home to Dezeen’s offices. We’ll publish buildings, interiors and objects that have been designed in Hackney each day until the games this summer.

More information and details of how to get involved can be found at www.designedinhackney.com.

Chains, ring pops and weapons in a master glass designer’s latest experiments with crystal

Though master of crystal and glass design Orfeo Quagliata, 39, has been producing his own transparent wonders for several years (he’s been working with glass since age 12 and heads up Phuze Design), a recent collaboration with Swarovski Elements has led the Mexico-based artist to explore a more subversive side of the material. After the success of his initial partnership with the crystal leaders (he made five exclusive martini shakers for Skyy Vodka, like one that evokes Mr. Big’s character and a lipstick tube, for the Mexico City Sex and the City 2 premiere), Quagliata’s new work featured in a show at San Francisco, California’s Velvet Da Vinci’s gallery this month makes almost a 180. Celebrating both the beauty of Swarovski’s crystals and showing a “lack of respect” by fearlessly grinding and melting the pieces, Quagliata’s irreverence and a playful approach to material mark his sleek designs.

Among his more outlandish explorations in jewelry, glassware and sculpture is the aptly named “Crystal Death,” a design inspired by gladiators’ iconic morningstar weapon. This crystal implement is a prime example of Quagliata’s tendency to transform something with negative associations (in this case, a piece traditionally used for killing) into a stunning work of art.

Quagliata describes the show’s one-off designs (that inspired Phuze’s new production line) as “coming out of necessity.” While he primary occupies himself with beauty and combining unexpected materials, Quagliata also focuses on functionality. In the case of his geometric glassware, the cups are made from Pyrex (a sturdy heat- and chemical-resistant material) for those craving chic, faceted mugs for their coffee. Drawing from his work for the exhibition, Quagliata simplified the production design from tall glasses with elaborate handles to short cups with a single colorful knob.

Other offshoots of the exhibition include Phuze’s Disco Line for which Quagliata removes the crystals’ foil with acid and fills hollow pieces with them. Unlike standard jewelry with crystals fixed into settings, the Disco Line’s pieces are “shimmering little worlds for the crystals to live in.” A standout from the line’s delicate rings, earrings and pendant-like pieces, the “Alpha Chain” contrasts the lightness of the crystals with heavy steel links.

For a look at Quagliata’s one-of-a-kind pieces, catch his show before it ends 28 August 2011. Visit Phuze Design for a look at Quagliata’s other jewels, like his glammed-up glass candy rings colored with ground crystals. Currently showing at Swarovski’s booth for Accessory Circuit Intermezzo in New York, his work will hit London and Shanghai soon. While his pieces are now available for purchase from his London distributor, they will be sold at MoMA next year.