ARCO Lamp

Italian class:

Achille Castiglioni is famed for his unique creations in industrial design. Born in Milan in 1918, he studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan. After gaining his diploma in 1944, he perfected his lamp designs with the help of his brothers, Livio and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni. He also showed a growing interest in architecture and town planning. Among his significant works is the ARCO lamp, made with Carrara marble and built with the support of Pier Giacomo.

ARCO:

The ARCO Lamp, also known as the Carrara Marble Lamp, was created in 1926. Its metal stalk is embedded in a Carrara marble base. At the other end of the stalk is a half-sphere lampshade. This simple but ingenious idea made Achille Castiglioni famous. A pure, rational and modern design, any large family coud find this useful in day to day life. You might not expect 60kg of marble and 2m of steel to go together, but they create a delightful and surprising item. To move the lamp, use the hole in the marble base to thread a stick through. A reflector helps keep the lightbulb cool. Many innovations were incorporated when the Flos brand began making the lamps. The ARCO has been an object of fascination since the Castiglioni brothers first created it and it has often been copied.

The ARCO Lamp with its Carrara marble remains Achille Castiglioni's most notable design.