The world of interior design is increasingly projected toward the outdoor dimension, conceived as a natural extension of the home, its style, and its types of furniture. And this trend inevitably concerns lighting as well, which, no longer experienced solely in its technical side, rediscovers outdoor charm and quality typical of the indoor world. Authoritative witness to this attitude is Contardi, which to its lighting creations for residential and contract has added a line dedicated to en plein air environments, but equally characterized by that “arch-decorative” trait that is the guiding principle of its design.
Contardi presented its outdoor proposals in a special installation inside its new single-brand showroom in Milan, in Corso Monforte. A setting evocative of summer and tropical atmospheres-thanks also to the collaboration of Wall&decò for the wallpapers and Meridiani for the furnishings-where light not only makes the space shine, but is the central protagonist in its multiple expressions.
Starting with Lagoon, designed by Servomuto, with natural features: it is in fact inspired by Typha, a plant found on the banks of rivers and lakes, with simple but graceful forms. A similar minimal elegance can be traced in the Tenebra pendant lamp, design Jan Van Lierd, which can be easily hung from cables, branches, pergolas, outdoor tents and rigging; in the Crystal model, it is fitted with elegant synthetic crystal diffusers, while in the waterproof battery-powered version it takes on a more informal character.
A Contardi bestseller in the indoor version, Calipso comes out into the open air with its art deco motifs, amid textural details (such as rope) and lively geometric textures that hark back to South American culture. Technological innovation then passes through Babu, signed by Massimiliano Raggi: a large lampshade made with three-dimensional digital printing technology on outdoor fabrics. Finally, Cube, also signed by Raggi, a reinterpretation of traditional lanterns, in two sizes and in both wired and battery-operated versions.
Outdoors, the lamps find not only a new expressiveness in dialogue with the surrounding space and environment, but even a new materiality designed specifically to withstand temperature and weathering. IP65 certification, an index of the products’ water resistance, anti-corrosion treatment of metals by cataphoresis, and water-repellent fabrics thus meet the high standards required by the market.
