Design
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec
The Lighthouse Table Lamp
Image courtesy of: Surface Magazine, photographed by: Nick Rochowski
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec are French siblings known for their innovative and interesting designs. The pair grew up in a farming community near Brittany, France… not exactlywhat one imagines when thinking of the “center of design.” As the older brother, Ronan became interested in design as a teenager and headed to Paris’ École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs. Several years later, Erwan followed in his footsteps and quickly started filling his free “student time” by assisting his older brother.
In 1999, the siblings opened up a Paris-based design studio working off each other’s ideas and understanding that the other’s differences would be a unique segue to creativity.
Ronan’s “desk” which sometimes doubles as a meeting space.
Image courtesy of: Design Boom
The Bouroullec’s have a small presence at Galerie Kreo, an experimental workshop in Paris. They maintain that this location is very important to the company’s evolution. Their own studio is different in that it has a low-key exterior quite the opposite from the modern work that is conducted inside.
Once inside, it feels like a casual and friendly environment. The space features oversized desks that are often used for informal meetings. The table chairs are mismatched, usually they are unsuccessful prototypes. It has been noted that the place feels like a “busy schoolroom.” With miniature models decorating the shelves, interior walls covered with sketches, and inspiration throughout… you instantly recognize all the work that takes place inside those four walls!
The Rope Chair.
This chair was produced out of a collaboration with Artek, a Finnish design brand. The chair translates a 2-D line drawing and a 3-D chair with a frame made from a steel tubing and rope.
Image courtesy of: Design Milk, photographed by: Mikko Ryhanen
The siblings got their “big break” in 1997 thanks to the Disintegrated Kitchen. This unique system enables users to customize their piece by adding worktops, shelves, drawers, and books onto unilateral frames that can be dismantled as needed. This piece at the Paris Furniture Fair was admired by Giulio Cappellini; afterwards, he invited the pair to design their first industrial design project.
Since then, the company has worked on several collaborations. In order to make their beautiful pieces, the pair uses high-tech manufacturing ideas to reimagine future archetypes of “simple” objects that go beyond their function and enter a place of superiority.
A Dark Emperador Marble Lighthouse Lamp.
Hopefully, the “come-out release” of just 50 pieces will be temporary!
Image courtesy of: Established and Sons, photographed by: Mikko Ryhanen
In 2019, in celebration of their tenth anniversary of the collaboration with Established and Sons, the British brand released two variations of the Lighthouse Lamp. Released in a run of 50, the design remains the same except for the stem which is now formed by either Rouge du Roi or Dark Emperador marble.
These two types of marble are difficult to find! Rouge du Roi is quarried in France and was used extensively in Versailles’ Royal Chateau and Dark Emperador was quarried in Spain and is best noted for its dark brown hues with green-and-cream veins. The lamp can be misconstrued for a sculpture… a quality that is important to the Bouroullec brothers.
Ronan with a Lighthouse Lamp orb.
Image courtesy of: Design Boom
The Lighthouse Table Lamp was designed for Established and Sons with the help of Vinini, the legendary Venetian glass maker. The unique fixture has a stone base with a bent aluminum arm that balances a removable mouth-blown orb. It is meant to resemble the shape of a lighthouse lens on its tip.
When this curated small collection initially debuted in 2010, it was during Milan Design Week, 2010. A little while later, the Paris Musee des Arts Decoratifs added it to their personal collection.
The combination of Venetian hand-blown glass with industrially engineered aluminum and sculptural marble makes this a quintessentially Bouroullec piece. The swirls and veins of these two different marbles make each table lamp completely unique.
