Established by the Broman Brothers in Stockholm in 2010, Fotografiska has become a huge success and one of Sweden’s most popular destinations. In 2019 new branches will be opened in two world cities; London and New York. The London branch, located in the dynamic Whitechapel area, is housed in a 1980’s office building that has undergone a radical transformation orchestrated by Guise Architects.
”We’ve had the honour to work with Fotografiska in their original venture and of course we were really happy to get this opportunity”, says Guise’s co-founder Jani Kristoffersen.
”The house has been a joy to work with. It is a 1980’s office building with all the qualities of the postmodern era. It has strong, geometrical primary forms that we’ve pushed further, building our own universe based on squares and circles”, explains Jani.
Bespoke spotlights
In this project, the devil is truly in the details. Merging the disciplines of architecture and product design, the Guise team had the opportunity to take a holistic approach on the interior design.
”We wanted to make sure that this world we’ve created was a perfect one, down to the floor mats. We’ve designed our own products, integrating the building’s geometric shapes into the design.”
Lighting was no exception
”We looked at a number of different spotlights but didn’t find anyone that corresponded with our world. So we decided to go for our own design. The trick was to find a producer that could develop our ideas with the proper lighting technology and put the luminaires into production. We were told that Fagerhult was the obvious choice.”
"The trick was to find a producer that could develop our ideas with the proper lighting technology and put the luminaires into production. We were told that Fagerhult was the obvious choice." Jani Kristoffersen, Architect Guise
A primary light form
The result of the collaboration is called Twister, a sleek spotlight for focused accent lighting that will be used throughout the building. With a design that communicates its area of use and architectural residence Twister has the qualities of a future post-postmodern classic.
”When it comes to lighting, working with circles comes naturally. Going back in history the circular form has been the primary choice when letting daylight in to a building”, says Jani.
The result is a sleek tube, its circular form enhanced by a smaller cross-section tube that houses the spotlight’s adjustment mechanisms and power supply. Functionality is subtly signalled by a cross-shaped handle.
”We’ve played the geometric primary forms, with the ambition to reduce the design as far as possible. I think the shape of the handle has a strong symbolism, which corresponds with the postmodern expression.”
Art meets lighting technology
The co-operation with Fagerhult has been a creative meeting between the architect’s ideas and human centred lighting design. Twister’s sleek design doesn’t give away anything about its high tech properties: True to Fagerhult’s philosophy it has state of the art lighting quality and is packed with contemporary solutions for lighting control – from DALI to wireless.
”If felt really good working with people that know lighting technology and how to solve all the details. As we didn’t want to compromise on size and shape it took some serious engineering skills. I’ve learned a lot about lighting technology through this collaboration”, says Jani who is happy to announce that his design will be set into mass production. For those wishing to enhance their environment with inspiration from London Fotografiska, Twister will be available via the Fagerhult Retail range from spring 2019.
Light, photography and lighting
The connection between light and photography is the Ariadne thread that runs through this postmodern London universe. Black, white and grey are the chosen non-colours referring to early black and white photography. Guise Architects also decided to work with galvanized sheet metal areas on several surfaces.
”It alludes on the process when light etches the picture on the plate, but it can also refer to how the picture comes alive on the paper in the photo liquid. The galvanized metal sheets will continue to transform when exposed to its environment in a similar way.”
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Fagerhult sets new industry standard: switching to the latest LED technology
Fagerhult is setting a new standard in the lighting industry and switching to the latest LED technology in its luminaires. One outcome of this is that the operating time is being doubled from 50,000 to 100,000 hours. “We want to make it easy for our customers to make the right choice, both for their wallet and for the environment,” says Marcus Fagerlind, Technical Manager for Smart Lighting at Fagerhult. Fagerhult is now taking the next step in the evolution of lighting technology. Going forward, the luminaires will be supplied with the latest generation of LEDs featuring Flip Chip technology. For our customers, this means lighting that offers higher energy efficiency, lower energy consumption and superior light quality – while also doubling the operating time. “Flipped” technology Flip Chip is a premium-segment LED chip that is based on proven technology. The thing that sets Flip Chip apart from standard LEDs is its design. Image gallery: LED-chips Section: Flip chip headline “An LED chip is made up of several different layers of material that determine the light’s wavelength and properties. A traditional standard chip is built like a cake with multiple layers, which the light shines up through from the bottom. Electrodes are attached at the top of the ‘cake’ and connected via gold or silver wires. Since these contact surfaces are located at the top, they also block some of the light, which affects the light output and, consequently, energy efficiency. These metal wires are also subjected to ‘stress’ in the event of temperature changes, making them a potential source of failure that can affect the working life of the LED chip,” explains Marcus Fagerlind: Marcus Fagerlind, Technical Manager for Smart Lighting at Fagerhult, at the Experience Centre in Habo, where lighting solutions are explored and demonstrated. In a Flip Chip, the cake is simply turned upside down, with all the contact surfaces at the bottom of the chip. This allows the light to flow freely, and the chip operates more efficiently without interference. Placing the contact surfaces at the bottom also helps avoid potential sources of failure in the connecting wires. As a result, the Flip Chip technology delivers a product that is both more efficient and more robust. Significant energy savings Equipped with the latest generation of Flip Chip LEDs, Fagerhult’s luminaires will increase energy efficiency by 5–10 percent, depending on their previous configuration.An efficiency improvement of this magnitude naturally has a significant impact on energy consumption and operating costs, but also on the system’s climate impact.“In an uncertain world, with energy crises following hot on the heels of each other, it has become even more important to accelerate the green transition – and to ensure that energy efficiency, economic considerations and environmental concerns go hand in hand. Every kilowatt-hour counts,” says Marcus Fagerlind.The operating time is also being extended – from 50,000 hours to 100,000 hours. A doubling of the working life, in other words, which makes Fagerhult’s luminaires a safe and profitable investment for the future. All upgraded luminaires will also have a constant light output, providing secure, stable, high-quality light throughout their working life. Extended lifetime from 50,000 to 100,000 hours, with stable, high-quality light throughout. New industry standard The switch from standard LEDs to Flip Chip covers the majority of Fagerhult’s Indoor range. Luminaire models that already feature Flip Chip will be upgraded to the latest generation of Flip Chip, as will all models that were previously equipped with standard LEDs. This change can improve the energy efficiency of the luminaires and reduce electricity consumption, meaning that with a small amount of effort, it is possible to achieve a very big impact.That sounds like a major change, doesn't it? “Absolutely,” says Marcus Fagerlind: “But this approach – daring to take the lead and make the tough decisions needed to bring about change – is very much part of Fagerhult’s DNA. We have never compromised between ergonomics and energy efficiency, choosing instead to drive our innovation efforts to find new solutions. This is an obvious step we have to take, not least for the sake of the climate. We want to take our share of the responsibility. This ought to be the industry standard.” Platinan in Gothenburg features 12,800 luminaires in one of Fagerhult’s largest innovation projects - demonstrating how the latest LED chip technology supports improved light quality and energy efficiency. Does this mean that the luminaires will become more expensive?“That’s exactly the point. We don’t want our customers to have to choose between what’s good and what’s actually even better. We also don’t think they should have to choose between strong finances and climate considerations. The cost of the upgrade will not be passed on to customers in the form of more expensive luminaires, but will be financed through the logistical benefits that the change will bring. With our pricing model, our customers gain access to the latest technology – at the same price as before.”
Innovation in every fold – Wrapped exceeds in engineering brilliance
As sustainability is no longer a choice but a necessity, innovation must begin with the question: What if we did things differently? For Fagerhult’s R&D team, that question became the spark behind Wrapped, the world’s first pendant luminaire made of cardboard. Traditionally, pendant luminaires are built with metal frames, which is a durable, familiar, and safe method. But the team behind Wrapped wanted to explore another path. Together, they decided to find out if they could create a luminaire that not only performed at a premium level but with minimized environmental impact. After thorough consideration, Solid board – a renewable and recycled cardboard material that had previously only been used in hidden components – now plays the leading role. Wrapped is more than a luminaire, it’s an exploration of forward-thinking and creativity. With no ready-made solutions to lean on, the design team had to start from scratch. Every element, from the construction to the mounting, was looked into and the result is a luminaire that’s both technically solid and environmentally conscious. Gallery: Wrapped details The luminaire body is made of up to 65% recycled cardboard and folds together with high precision cut-outs that fit perfectly. Engineering elegance Wrapped’s body is composed of two primary parts: the inner body and the outer body, both designed to work in harmony for strength and stability. The outer body is held together by a rib made of 75% recycled post-consumer aluminium, locking the folds in place and ensuring shape retention. Its end caps are made from 100% recycled post-consumer plastic and snap into precision-cuts, securing the structure without the need for screws. The junction box is snapped into place and the driver is mounted using small clips, made from recycled post-consumer plastic. The LED board is mounted onto the lens, protected by a cover of Solid board, and the entire light module is locked into place with a louvre. The result is a seamless, screw-free construction that embodies thoughtful design. Design with purpose Fredrik Beckius, Design Engineer at R&D, reflects on the journey:“The challenge was working with a material that we had never used for a pendant luminaire before. We couldn’t mount components the usual way, so we had to find alternative solutions.”Martin Gustafsson, also a Design Engineer, adds:“We had to find a way to produce the luminaire cost-efficiently, both for us and our suppliers. Every design component had to serve more than one purpose.” This dual-purpose thinking is evident throughout Wrapped’s design. It’s not just about aesthetics or sustainability – it’s about engineering brilliance and making every part count. Quote: Martin Gustafsson Sustainability without compromise Wrapped is manufactured in Fagerhult, Habo, using locally sourced recycled and renewable materials. It’s a product born from Swedish innovation, rooted in the legacy of previous sustainable designs like Multilume Re:Think and Kvisten. Unlike many eco-conscious products, Wrapped is quietly confident – and sustainable in its DNA. With high-precision cut-outs, a stable construction, and rigorous testing throughout the process, Wrapped meets all quality standards without compromising its environmental ethos.