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In Chinese Xi means “morning light” but also “in praise of wisdom”. And when the XI lamps designed by Neri & Hu for Poltrona Frau are switched on their soft, full light is evocative of sunlight at dawn. The project seeks to convey a culture of light founded on the understanding that the start of every new day is like the beginning of life, infused with positivity and a sense of rebirth.

 

The Xi lamps, in blown glass and saddle-leather, allow themselves to be cradled by the space like lanterns. The light fitting combines two blown glass elements. The outer layer of glass, with its particular regular ridged surface, is transparent and comes in amber, emerald, sapphire or moonstone. The inner piece of glass, white with a pearl finish, makes the light warm and diffused. Unique pieces blown by master glassmakers of Venice with the use of body-tinted glass. Differences in colour and little air bubbles are due to the artistic processing of the glass and must therefore be regarded as fine details that make every product unique and unrepeatable.

 

The light fitting is hung from a Cuoio Saddle Extra leather strap, available in the two finishes Camel and Taupe, with dyed tone-on-tone raw-edge seam and branded Poltrona Frau logo. In the new floor and pendant versions the strap used to hang the lamp is held in place by a metal loop with brushed brass finish.

 

The Xi collection comprises various types of lamps: pendant lamps, lamps fitted to horizontal bars and not, floor arm lamps and table lamps.

 

In the pendant version, available in various combinations of single or multiple lamps, the Xi lights are fitted to a horizontal bar of adjustable height available in two lengths, 130 cm and 180 cm, and with matt gunmetal grey finish. The electrical cables have a black finish. The rail structure of the bar makes it possible to move the lights horizontally and fix them in the desired position.

 

In the table lamp version the light fitting consists of a large lantern positioned on a metal base with natural brass finish. The Cuoio Saddle Extra leather strap supports the lamp and can be used as a handle when moving it. The light can be adjusted using the on/off dimmer touch system.

 

The floor arm lamp consists of a single extra large pendant lamp. The supporting bar is in brushed burnished steel. The Cuoio Saddle Extra leather strap to which the light fitting is hooked continues down to the base, covering the bottom part of the steel mount. The bottom consists of a circular base in semi-polished Nero Marquina marble topped with a metal counterpoise. The marble base has a sheet metal trim. All metal details of the base have a brushed burnished finish.

 

The Extra Large Pendant version consists of a single extra large lantern hung using a Cuoio Saddle Extra leather strap. The rose used to attach it to the ceiling is made from aluminium with brushed brass finish.

About Designer
Neri & Hu

Mr. Neri received his Master of Architecture at Harvard University and his Bachelor of Architecture at UC Berkeley. Ms. Hu received her Master of Architecture and Urban Planning at Princeton University and her Bachelor of Arts in Architecture at UC Berkeley. Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu are the Founding Partners of Neri&Hu Design and Research Office, an inter-disciplinary international architectural design practice based in Shanghai, China, with an additional office in London, UK. Neri&Hu works internationally providing architecture, interior, master planning, graphic, and product design services. Currently working on projects in many countries, Neri&Hu is composed of multi-cultural staff who speak over 30 different languages. The diversity of the team reinforces a core vision for the practice: to respond to a global worldview incorporating overlapping design disciplines for a new paradigm in architecture. Neri&Hu are named Maison & Objet Asia Designers of The Year 2015 and Wallpaper* Designer of The Year 2014. In 2013, they were inducted into the U.S. Interior Design Hall of Fame. Their practice was the 2011 INSIDE Festival Overall Winner, won AR Awards for Emerging Architecture in 2010 by Architectural Review and one of the Design Vanguards in 2009 by Architectural Record. Other than architectural professionals, Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu have been actively involved in teaching and research. They have been invited to speak, exhibit and judge for many prestigious events and programs all over the world. Lyndon Neri and Rossana are also founders of Design Republic, a retail concept store based in Shanghai that offers a unique collection of products created by the world's best design talents, Besides award-winning architecture and interiors, Neri&Hu have designed products for brands including including Classicon, Fritz Hansen, Gandia Blasco, JIA, LEMA, MOOOI, Nanimarquina, Parachilna, Poltrona Frau S.p.A., Porro, Stellar Works, Wallpaper* Handmade, Meritalia, BD Barcelona Design, neri&hu, among many others. In 2015, Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu were appointed Creative Directors of Stellar Works.