The new Devina collection is based upon a cylindrical shade decorated in 4 distinct design styles, each inspired by the Nordic light in different seasons. For the interpretation of Summer, Fagerhult turned to Orrefors and designer Lena Bergström, one of Sweden’s most renowned designers, specializing in glass and textile.
Orrefors has produced utility glass and art glass made of crystal since 1898. One of Sweden’s famous international design brands, they are associated with timeless Scandinavian elegance, innovative design and genuine craftsmanship. The relationship between Lena Bergström and Orrefors spans over more than two decades and Lena is the designer behind some of the brand’s most beloved glassware like the ”Carat” and the ”Planets” collections.
all that glitters
The inspiration was found in her own hometown, Umeå in northern Sweden.
”The light you experience in the north of Sweden during the summertime is unique. Umeå is known and loved for its numerous birch trees and I wanted to recreate the experience of the sunlight finding its way through the pergola of delicate leafs”, says Lena.
”You’ll have the same experience if spending a day at sea in northern Scandinavia. The horizon seems incredibly high and the sun reflects itself in the water, creating a wonderful glittering light. My own memories of the sun playing in the water and the light sparkling through the foliage – that’s the light I wanted for Devina.”
a kaleidoscope
Lena and Fagerhult decided for a cut technique inspired by her Carat glassware, enhancing the contrast between the intricate irregularities of the glass and the luminaire’s, plain smooth metal body.
”It has been a tight collaboration with Fagerhult’s development team and Orrefors’ skilled glass cutters. Glass is a fantastic material to mediate light, but it also comes with a lot of challenges. You have to consider the light distribution and ergonomics without compromising on the energy efficiency of the LED light source”, Lena explains.
She started to experiment with different types of cuts, spending a lot of time in the workshop, side by side with the master-cutter.
”At first, the light distribution didn’t come out well at all. It felt more like stains of light. After some trials and errors, spreading the cuts and adjusting the cutting angle we thought we found the right balance. The testing of the prototypes in Fagerhult’s laboratory proved us right! The final result projects that glittering, comfortable Nordic light that inspired me. It's a bit like a kaleidoscope of Nordic light.”
The brief from Fagerhult was presented with exact details of its application. Lena’s design would be housed within the golden ratio-inspired, cylindrical shape that is mutual for all luminaires in the Devina collection.
”To me it was no obstacle, I’m used working this way. I had to take the complete luminaire with the light engine, the housing and the post into account, to make sure that my design correlated to the other components and materials, but I still felt totally free in the process.”
"My own memories of the sun playing in the water and the light sparkling through the foliage – that’s the light I wanted for Devina.” Lena Bergström, designer Orrefors
handcrafted in sweden
Devina Solglitter shade will be hand-produced by the glass cutters at Orrefors’ workshop in Kosta Boda. It embodies a long tradition of craftsmanship, each and every piece unique.
”I like the thought of the collaboration between Fagerhult and Orrefors also being a tribute to Swedish industrial tradition. For a long time Swedish glassworks produced shades for the lighting industry and during the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s the glassworks even had their own luminaire collections. Light is essential to both of us.”
