Giopato & Coombes

When Christoper Giopato and Cristiana Giopato founded their namesake lighting studio, they hoped to do something different than what was commonly seen from established Italian designers. The pair, a British industrial designer- Coombes and an Italian architect- Giopato, wanted to (courtesy of Surface Magazine) “light up the world with magic.”

The luminaires within the collection come from a desire to design a place that evokes a personal and emotional connection. Italian manufacturing and unparalleled quality are at the core of Giopato & Coombes; this is achieved thanks to a network of trusted artisans who are able to fulfill each client’s desire.

Initially, the pair worked for other designers; however in 2014, they realized that as entrepreneurs they could fill a void that was missing from the high-end lighting market. Specifically, Giopato and Coombes desired (courtesy of the company’s web site) “a more fluid approach to design.”

With many questions and unknowns, the pair began designing. Still today, they refer to Bolle as the most important piece they’ve created to date. With this monumental chandelier, the designers answered the question of how the pair would make a difference within the design industry.

Even though they looked to initially shy away from Italian design, merging the excellence of Venetian manufacturing with advanced lighting techniques was at the heart of the company’s design… again, layers. The materials are always glass, marble, and brass… in homage to the pairs’ respective heritage, and it is all about the details. As quoted directly from the website, “This is possible through hidden inserts of advanced materials and techniques, such as Kevlar, aeronautical grade stainless steel and 3d printing.”

For the designers, it remains important that the light source (the bulb) stays hidden. Perhaps the thought is that it is protected, similar to how the human heart is shielded inside a body. Regardless, the light effortlessly adds a positive energy to both the design and the adjacent surroundings.

Inspiration comes in many different forms and Giopato and Coombes resist the temptation to adhere to the latest trends and obsessions. Each new vision is a representation of the international team’s talents… all merged with the age-old expertise of the Venetian artisans that work alongside.

A new project is the new lamp collection that debuted during Milan Design Week 2022; called Maehwa, the design was inspired by a trip to Seoul. Maehwa, in Korean, means “plum blossom” and a visit to a heavenly park in the capital city left the pair in awe when they were utterly surrounded by and enveloped by leafy branches full of beautiful blossoms. Watching others gaze in amazement and feeling the pure connection with nature translated to the development of Maehwa. Courtesy of Surface Magazine, “Maehwa develops the relationship between nature and abstraction, searching for a compositional balance between the elements playing with extension and presence across space.”

Courtesy of Garde Shop, the designing duo eloquently explains why they do what they do, “An Indian lady with a beautiful Sari came to our exhibition in London and described this moment as she saw our lamps for the first time. Full of joy, almost tears.  This is why we love designing for people.” No further explanation is necessary!