Vitra Cloud Lamp by Frank Gehry

About the Designer
Frank Gehry (1930 - )

Born in 1930, he studied architecture at the University of Southern California and studied City Planning at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard. He developed projects of private and public city planning in America, Japan. In Europe, he has recently been awarded the Pritsker Architecture Prize in 1989 and the Wolf Prize in Art in 1992. His projects have been published all over the world. The most important retrospective, "The Architecture of Frank O. Gehry" has been organized by the Walker Art Center in 1986 and has travelled the major American museums.

Designed by Frank Gehry for Vitra, the voluminous but delicate, paper-like lampshade consists of several linked shell elements that can be altered simply by bulging them or pressing them in. It features a polyester fleece that has been treated several times and which looks and feels like strong, slightly fibrous paper. The fiberlike polyester membrane comes as flat sheets that are snapped together. Pliable, tear-proof and easy to clean, this material is the ideal choice for Cloud. You can assume co-designer responsibilities as you can alter the shape of the lamp for your aesthetic sense.

Design:

• Design is the process by which almost all objects in Vitra's surroundings are instilled with a specific design and function - from cars to paper clips, from clothing to chairs. And design does not just mean giving things a shape. Design creates the basis which enables things to function in the desired manner. It is a process in which complementary but often mutually contradictory requirements have to be met comfort, technology, ergonomics, ecology, economics, aesthetics. Design can be successful only when the balance of all these factors is attained

Quality:

• Once in the factory, Vitra staff manufacture furniture to precise standards, individually ensuring the quality of each product
• Vitra has been certified for DIN EN ISO 9001 : 2000
• Vitra's focus on quality does not end at the factory door - they believe that providing clients with exceptional service is just as important as manufacturing furniture. In order to make certain Vitra clients enjoy consistently high quality in all Vitra products, they have set up their own test center which monitors products against criteria that are far more stringent than the statutory standards

Ergonomics:

• Ergonomics is an applied science that studies the relationship between human beings and machines. Vitra produces furniture that responds to the ergonomic requirements of the body and as a consequence has a positive effect on health and well-being. All Vitra products except for the experimental series Vitra Edition x have been tested by independent institutions. They comply with prescribed standards under the European Directive on VDU Work and are marked with the GS seal = Geprüfte Sicherheit or Tested Safety, seal of the independent certification company LGA

Ecology:

• Vitra's contribution to ecological conservation does not stop with a close examination of materials and processes. All aspects of the company's work involve ecological thinking
• In 1991, Vitra set up an internal ecology committee to discuss environmental topics. This team identifies new tasks, and its project teams work together to find solutions
• Vitra uses only non-CFC foams and adhesives free of toxic solvents; all possible materials are recycled. Wherever possible, Vitra uses recycled materials
• Vitra's goal during production is to minimize noise and emission levels as well as to reduce waste. Packaging materials are kept to a minimum and re-used as often as possible

Features:

• Polyester fleece treated several times
• Pliable and tear-proof
• Easy to clean
• Steel inner frame

Specifications:

• Accommodates: 1 x 100W E26 / A19W bulb
• Cloud 30 dimensions: 19" Dia
• Cloud 32 dimensions: 20.5" Dia
• Cloud 34 dimensions: 23.5" Dia