French design luminary Erwan Bouroullec, known for his prolific contributions to lighting, unveils his latest collaboration with Flos: Maap. This innovative wall-mounted lighting system, launching July 21st, redefines the relationship between object and owner by inviting co-creation, transforming each installation into a truly one-of-a-kind sculptural composition.
Design Philosophy: Embracing Imperfection and Collaboration
Rather than dictating a fixed aesthetic, Bouroullec conceived Maap as a dynamic entity, designed to be shaped, reshaped, and interpreted by those who live with it. “I see design as part of a whole,” Bouroullec explains. “Designs need to cooperate with a given environment and somehow enhance it.” This philosophy underpins Maap, reflecting Bouroullec’s enduring fascination with the interplay between precise geometry and the unpredictable beauty of nature.
The lamp’s foundational structure comprises a simple steel framework and magnetic attachment points. This robust base supports an oversized Tyvek envelope, whose unique folds and contours emerge entirely from the user’s arrangement, guaranteeing that no two Maap installations will ever be identical. Bouroullec emphasizes this collaborative spirit: “Maap embodies flexible and combinative construction principles which make it ready for architects to play with. [It’s about] providing solutions instead of a given proposal, thinking about collaboration instead of uniqueness, play instead of execution.”
The Ingenuity of Tyvek: A Material Reimagined
Central to Maap’s adaptable nature is its seemingly delicate yet incredibly resilient shell, crafted from Tyvek. This material was a deliberate choice, made after initial experiments with paper proved too fragile for the intended interactive design. Tyvek, celebrated for its tear-resistant and exceptionally lightweight properties, can be repeatedly manipulated and reconfigured without compromising its structural integrity.
Large magnetic “Dots” serve as the ingenious fasteners, securing the Tyvek diffuser to the steel framework while simultaneously allowing for effortless repositioning and reconfiguration over time. This reinforces the core idea that Maap is an evolving object, perpetually open to new interpretations rather than being confined to a single, static composition.
Transforming Spaces with Ambient Light
Available in three sizes, with the largest extending over 10 feet wide, Maap transcends the traditional role of a lamp, transforming an entire wall into a softly glowing canvas. Instead of focusing on a singular point of illumination, the expansive diffuser casts an ambient wash of light, which Bouroullec evocatively compares to sunlight filtering through a window or a glass wall. The result is an atmospheric presence that feels as inherently architectural as it is decoratively captivating.
Maap is available for purchase through Flos flagship stores, flos.com, Design Within Reach stores, and dwr.com.
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