Dezeen Magazine

Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen

Clara von Zweigbergk's colourful lamps recall hot air balloons and carousels

Swedish designer Clara von Zweigbergk has created colourful lamps reminiscent of hot air balloons for Danish lighting brand Louis Poulsen.

Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen

The Stockholm-based designer's collaborative series was launched as a part of NYCxDesign at the Carl Hansen & Son showroom, alongside the Danish furniture company's new collection of chairs.

The bulbous-shaped lamps, named Cirque, have four bands of bright colour across the shade and are available in three different colour combinations.

Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen

The brightest variation is comprised of teal, vermillion, powder blue and a pale yellow bands of colour. Other options include a slightly more subdued palette with white, copper and mossy green hues.

The shape and colours of the playful lamps take cues from a trip Von Zweigbergk once took to Tivoli Gardens, an amusement park in Copenhagen. According to Louis Poulsen, the aim was to reference the "whirls and twirls, carousels, candy floss makers and wheels of fortune".

Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen

On being asked about the reception of her series, the Swedish designer replied, "I don’t mind at all if – sitting in their kitchens – people look up and start thinking hot air balloons and carousels."

The four stripes of colour used in the design collaboration refer to the spinning movement of objects and rides that can be seen at Tivoli, articulating the optical illusion when colours merge into separate bands.

Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen

The Cirque lamps are made from powder-coated spun aluminium and come in three sizes, which can be suspended at varying levels.

The lower half of the tear-drop shape of the lamp has been cut short to allow a downward light distribution, which is particularly suited to being suspended low above tables or collectively as low-hanging groups in the corner of a room.

Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen

The Cirque series joins Louis Poulsen's numerous lighting collections, such as the recently re-released version of the iconic Panthella lamp by Verner Panton that was originally developed in 1971.

Other lighting shown at NYCxDesign, which took place last month, include Yabu Pushelberg's handblown celestial lighting collection for Lasvit and Roll&Hill's lamps that adjust like construction cranes.

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Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen
Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen
Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen
Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen
Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen
Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen
Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen
Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen
Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen
Cirque lamps by Louis Poulsen