In the world of decoration and interior design, some recipes and pieces are a sure bet for success, and in the case of the Arco lamp, this is no different. It’s no coincidence that more than fifty years after being introduced to the market in 1962, this lamp remains an icon in the Mid-Century Modern catalog and one of the most famous designs ever created. Although some people consider it a bit of a “cliche” due to its immense popularity, this has not meant a pejorative label, as its impressiveness and amazing characteristics continue to prevail over any stigma of “hackneyed choice”.
Undoubtedly, the Arco lamp is a design that has survived with dignity over time, and even its production mechanisms have been improved and automated over the decades, as industrial technologies have advanced and made it easier to mass production. The result is an impressive, thoughtful, original, and ingenious object that continues to positively impact new generations, just as it did when it was first presented by the FLOS company in the middle of the last century. If you have this Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni masterpiece in your house, you should discover the little hacks and take into account the most important tips to get the best out of it.
Finding The Perfect Spot For Your Arco Lamp
Although the world of floor lamps is practically endless and there are thousands of different models on the market that reflect diverse trends, epochs, and aesthetic trends, the Arco lamp always stands out among them for its functional advantages. Keep this in mind when deciding the specific spot where you plan to place it since the arched shape of this lamp is designed so that it can be used up to two meters away from the base. The main idea of its designers was that it could always project light from above, no matter where you decided to use it.
This overhead lighting is especially useful for activities such as reading, manual work, or some specific task that requires fixing the light source at a necessary point. The more than seventy-eight inches of arc range from the base to the reflector head allows it to locate it in a very comfortable and strategic spot. Also, be sure to choose a place for your Arco lamp where you can take the best advantage of the reflections of the area’s color scheme, especially if they are predominantly light tones. If your primary light source at night is a ceiling lamp, your floor lamp can target its light to less favored areas; that is, the darkest corners.
The Arco Lamp Is a Source Of Remarkable Solutions
The Arco lamp is an effective design in more ways than one. This is the main reason why it has appeared in all kinds of mass media such as television programs, movies, decoration magazines, etc., and it’s also present in thousands of homes, offices, and areas of common use throughout the planet. Just look at some of its photographs to see how well it fits into any decorative style, its imposing and attractive presence, which in the most minimalist layouts inevitably makes it the focal point of any compartment.
Just as it works well in the aesthetic aspect, it also works in the functional one. The Arco lamp’s reflector head allows you to point the light source in the direction it’s required, which means great versatility. Also, even though its amazing marble base is large and heavy, it can be easily moved from one place to another. For this, it includes a hole that goes through it from end to end and facilitates its mobilization in a light and friendly way. Besides, thanks to its three individual adjusting points in the stem, the height of the reflector head can be regulated, with a mechanism that works like a telescope.
Why The Arco Lamp Still Being Famous To This Day?
The original purpose of the Castiglioni brothers with their Arco lamp was, from every point of view, achieved with great success: distinction. They wanted to create a lamp that was unlike anything that had been seen up to that moment, and that was inspired by the modern spirit that had come to stay in that century that was beginning to invade all aspects of everyday life, human thought, and practically all professional areas. These designers are among the most recognized and talented of their time for creating technically resourceful, efficient, and expressive designs, and this made them highly marketable products.
This is how the Arco lamp ended up becoming a product of mass consumption and great acceptance. So much so that, currently, there are replicas that emulate with great fidelity the characteristics of the original design and are marketed at only a fraction of the cost of the one published by FLOS. A very worthy and valuable example of an Arco lamp replica is that of the Barcelona Designs company, which distributes this piece throughout the United States and Canada through online sales. This replica is at first sight indistinguishable from the original, as it even includes its amazing Carrara marble base.
The Arco Lamp is a Symbol of Style and an Icon of Design
The characteristics of the Arco lamp reproduction are a sample of an amazing product of refined engineering. It’s overwhelming to think that a design that was originally inspired by a street lamp, to provide light from above without complicated wiring or ceiling installations, would end up becoming the icon it is today, known to design and decoration professionals and common users around the world. Its unusual mix of shapes and materials that are instantly recognizable remains unique in its style, and a display of the originality and paradigm break that modernity brought with it.
If you’re looking for a piece that masterfully mixes the old with the modern, the eccentric with the simple, sophisticated with the artisan and print an unequivocal stamp of the Mid-Century Modern style in your most personal areas, the Arco lamp could be the perfect answer.