philippe starck for flos: bibliotheque nationale and net lamp

philippe starck for flos: bibliotheque nationale and net lamp image ©  designboom

philippe starck (in collaboration with eugene quitllet) has created two lighting pieces for flos, ‘bibliotheque nationale’ and ‘net lamp’. the french designer describes ‘bibliotheque nationale’ : ‘imagining a fairy tale bookcase where books pirouette and take flight towards the light‘. a multi-functional lamp with small shelves for books and other articles, plus an USB connector to recharge iPads or smartphones, ‘bibliotheque nationale’ seems to fulfill our simplest but most fundamental desires… the design should facilitates our daily habits of reading, making telephone calls, networking or just relaxing.

‘bibliotheque nationale’  image ©  designboom

USB detail of ‘bibliotheque nationale’ image ©  designboom

‘net’ lamp image ©  designboom

‘net lamp’ is a table lamp that doubles as an iPad or iPhone dock. it probably was the most interesting design at euroluce, the lighting exhibition held every other year at the milan furniture fair. the design by philippe starck (in collaboration with eugene quitllet) has a docking connection atop the LED fixture. a small vertical stand behind the devices keeps them propped up.

‘net’ offers the sheer functional beauty of recharging devices without cluttering the desk, but it’s easy to imagine customers using their phones or tables as digital picture frames. an iPad user might even get a wireless keyboard and have an instant work space: task lighting, keyboard and screen.

‘net’ lamp image ©  designboom

‘net’ lamp image ©  designboom

‘net’ lamp image ©  designboom

‘net lamp’ image courtesy flos

designer philippe starck portrait © designboom