Up to then we had always produced glass lamps. Havana by Foscarini, this large cigar swaying gently in the air, should also have been glass.
In reality polyethylene was the right material for a lamp that had to be fresh and light, accessible and versatile. Jozeph Forakis also had the idea of creating it with separate segments that characterized its design even more. Foscarini Havana has a pure light that is simple, yet never banal, designed to illuminate a specific area within an environment.
The outdoor version, also made of polyethylene, has been designed as a single piece, like the initial prototype, with marks that recalls the subdivision into segments of the indoor version, making it impermeable to bad weather.
About the Designers
Jozeph Forakis was born in New York City. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design from the Rhode Island School of Design and Masters of Industrial Design from the Domus Academy in Milan. His work is recognized for it's innovative use of materials and techniques, as well as for his ongoing investigation into the 'behavioral' influence of interactive information technologies in product design and in everyday objects.
The son of career artists, his cultural approach to design reflects his background in art and theatre with early professional experiences including set and lighting design for New York Off- Off Broadway. Other early experiences established his interest in research-driven design, with work in the US high-technology and biomedical sectors.
His work has been displayed in many galleries and museums around the world, including the historic exhibitions "Mutant Materials in Contemporary Design" and "Workspheres", both at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, where it now forms part of the permanent collection.