Our understand of how light can affect our physical and mental wellbeing has grown significantly over the past few decades. And so Milan-based lighting brand Artemide, founded in 1960 by Ernesto Gismondi, has excelled at combining technological innovations with a human-centric and future-forward approach to the role of light in our environments.
To celebrate the company’s history, Artemide has revisited its rich archive. It wasn’t until 1975 that Gismondi introduced a design of his own, Sintesi, which continues to hold a special place at Artemide. Conceived as an intelligent and modular system, the lamp is based on a few simple aluminium components, and went on to be the basis for an entire family of versatile and functional lamps. The table version, now back in production, represents the original concept of the project.
Its essential structure, composed of a few curved metal elements, reflects Artemide’s pursuit of balance between form and function. Two C-shaped profiles of different lengths form a Y-shaped support which, through a simple opening and closing movement, allows the lamp’s height and inclination to be adjusted, offering freedom of orientation. “It’s like a magic formula, and finding it is never guaranteed. You have to understand the needs of a particular moment in time,” Gismondi had said at the time of its release. But Gismondi alighted on something even more elusive – a design language that can stand the test of time.
“Sintesi is an elemental design that, by stripping things down to their essence, manages to be both flexible and timeless,” says Carlotta de Bevilacqua, award-winning designer and president and CEO of Artemide and president of Danese Milano. “It has an industrial language – pure, without added decoration or superfluous elements. Today, this is a key value for a sustainable approach. Its clean lines make it versatile and beyond trends. It is simple yet has a strong, recognisable character, emphasised by its bold colours.”
She adds: “A human-scale light [such as Sintesi] is one that creates a relationship, encourages interaction and allows for a personal management of one’s own lighting scenarios. Sintesi’s lightweight design allows it to be moved and positioned anywhere. It becomes a tool that accompanies us in our activities with functional light, and its flexibility allows it to create different lighting scenarios.”
The lamp’s light source is housed within a frame fitted with an E27 socket, ensuring compatibility with evolving lighting technologies and long-term usability. A reflector and a protective grid complete the structure, reinforcing the project’s technical and functional character. Artemide has reintroduced Sintesi in a palette of colours that includes white, blue, green, as well as a new red finish.
The relaunch is part of a wider programme revisiting Artemide’s archives, including work by Gae Aulenti, Vico Magistretti and Ettore Sottsass.
Find out more via the Artemide website here.
