Liiu
Liiu
Liiu
Liiu
Liiu
Liiu
A helix spiralling down an atrium, a series of concentric rings radiating outward over a bar, a vertical curtain of lighting slicing a room in half: Almost any configuration is possible with Liiu. The brainchild of VANTOT, and now part of the Luceplan portfolio, Liiu is more modular lighting sculpture than conventional light, able to tackle projects of nearly any scale with ingenuity and magnificent beauty.
Helmed by partners Esther Jongsma and Sam van Gurp, Dutch studio VANTOT originally developed the super-flexible lighting system as a solution to a particular problem — a large-scale lighting installation meant to be suspended from a roof that is a protected monument and therefore not able to bear any significant weight. Enter Liiu, a framework of electrified metal cables fastened to the ceiling and held in constant tension by sleek counterweights. The illuminators themselves are composed of two whisper-thin metal arms with spiralled ends, which are threaded onto the powered cables; polycarbonate diffusers project out from the arms and emit a lovely glow. This inventive approach enabled the designers to create a four-metre-wide chandelier weighing a mere 40 kilograms.
Through an advanced configurator by Luceplan, designers can realize their own spectacular visions, whether for a large commercial installation or a minimalist feature in a private residence. Balancing art and engineering, Liiu exemplifies how minimal materials — and some out-of-the-box thinking — can make maximum impact.
