photo by Roll & Hill
One of the amazing things about working in New York City is the incredible ways in which the world intersects here. As cliche as it is, the melting pot effect is real and an important ingredient of the creative vitality that manifests in magical, dynamic, and unexpected moments large and small. We find this so inspiring and why we were thrilled when one such moment crossed our paths shortly after landing here.
In 2016, our good friends at the Norwegian Consulate and Sight Unseen came with a casual invitation: collaborate with Norwegian Designers to create an object that represents the overlap of culture and the exchange of ideas. Always up for a collaborative opportunity, we jumped at the chance and were promptly connected with Vera & Kyte of Bergen, Norway.
Working over long distance via email and phone conference, we came to discover our Pacific Northwest roots are closely entangled with Nordic influences. Our conversations flowed and enlightened in unexpected ways considering we'd never met each other before. Our group discussions touched on culture and values and were inevitably framed by the idea of light. We learned Norway has a special intimate relationship with light due to their dark winters and long summers. We also discussed the way design is valued differently in Scandinavia, where appreciation is much broader, ubiquitous, and accessible than in the US. As we started to ideate, our concepts galvanized around the idea of creating a lamp that reflects this in an elegant and interactive way.
Through iterative sketches, we honed a collective design that became Krane.
photo by Roll & Hill
photo by Roll & Hill
The essential idea behind Krane is to create an intersection between a permanent, decorative light and a functional, portable lamp meant to adapt to spaces and needs. Instead of an expressive chandelier that sits in one position like a sculpture, we pared down a lamp into essential elements that illicit an interaction between the user and the light.
Krane's cord, armature, and light source all work together to create a simple expressive composition while providing users with the ability to move the light source closer or farther away with a single motion. One Krane can go from illuminating a dining table to an intimate reading lamp simply by changing its height. Its simple form can be installed in a variety of spaces without too much visual noise or expression.
Krane is available as a plug-in ceiling mounted fixture in two armature sizes (large and small) as well as a hardwired wall-mounted sconce version.
Krane is manufactured by Roll & Hill, who provide an amazing level of craft, finish, and technical refinement to the series alongside its illustrious collection of contemporary lighting.