Deep into light

These weeks I haven't been able to write. I've found myself very busy trying to manage time for thinking a bit about something worth writing and writing it down. This week I've been working, having family issues (like my dad getting sick), issues with an almost ghostly bf, researching about the printing of my thesis and checking it so I can send it to the publishing place and get it before I leave.

Lots of stuff, lots and lots of stuff to do and nothing done yet. But among all these things, I realised how important it is to be immersed into the lighting world, or the world you love if you are not into light and learn little by little, even if you think you are not doing anything important.

I realised this fact these last days. Last week I talked to an aunt who is an architect as well, but she is very into restaurantion and conservation of historical buildings. She also builds some appartments on her own. I was talking to her about light and luminaries. She told me I should do not just something on lighting but do something on electrical stuff and so on. She didn't understand the importance of lighting design and light in space, at least not as something special and besides design and technical stuff.

This week, talking to my bf, another architect, he was trying to understand gow much electricity could be saved by using leds instead of fluorescents. I could give her some numbers, and I did, comparing the wattage of a cfl and a retrofixture with leds, but that wasn't enough. Sometimes, it doesn't matter one single lamp, but the design and the luminaries used in the whole place. Maybe not flooding it with light, but have enough light as for creating a nice atmopshere suitable for the things done in that place. Maybe it's not using another lamp, but a suitable lighting design for the whole place!

I think it is important to be deep into the things you like. Months ago, when I was not working nor thinking about it, I would have never answered these questions or even realized people didn't understand light was important for a place and a good design would save you lots of money. Well, I would have realised this, but not thougght it was the opinion of architects.

So the only thing I've got to say is get deep into the things you like, and, if you have the chance... talk about it.

Winged light

Lately I've been a bit obsessed with luminaries. I just find amazing how many ways of taking light to people might be, and with so many subjects, and each lamp gicing you something extra special in it, so you can say: "OMG! I love it! I absolutely want to buy one!"
Today my inspiration were birds. Not just because I listen to them every morning through my window, or because I love how fragile and strong they can be at the same time (I love fagile stuff) but because I realised they have served as an inspiration for many people with different backgrounds.

First, although they are not lamps, I have to mention Mati Klenell's birds for Iittala(yes, again).



Now, let's begin with the light.

I saw this lamp that looks so pretty. It is from Swedish Hommin, designed by Hung Ming Chen and it's perfect for not leaving a naked light bulb.

The next one is a Mexican lamp from Eos Studio, called Wirebird. that I found so simple and so pretty at the same time. Check it out.

An why not talking about one of the greatest lamp designers (I love his luminaries) called Ingo Maurer, who used the birds as a theme for several lamps such as
Birds, birds, birds

Birdie

and Birdie's nest

And mixing these two ideas, the simple, yet beautiful lamps by Chinese Zhili Liu, among which we can find:
Sparrow

Nightingale

and Doves

I have found all these lamps so beautiful and simple. I can say these are the most beautiful and inspiring bird lamps I have found on the web. Hope you enjoy these birds as much as I did.


hugs and kisses!!!!

Cabiria

Hace unos meses, escuché sobre un restaurante en la Roma, cuya iluminación la había hecho Teletec, y tuve ganas de visitarlo, pero no recordaba cuál era, además de que creí era un café, pero el concepto me pareció realmente interesante. Se mencionaban cosas de iluminación teatral en un restaurante. El restaurante era Cabiria, en la plaza Luis Cabrera en la Col. Roma y lo visité este fin de semana, por mi cumpleaños. (Primera vez que elijo un lugar por su iluminación)

He de decir que la iluminación es estupenda, y logra crear un ambiente increíble con sus tenues luces rojas que iluminan áreas, y la iluminación a los cuadros que los levantan y les dan un aire especial. La arquitectura es simple, así como el diseño de interiores, pero la iluminación es lo que le da vida a ese lugar, con una multitud de barras iluminadas bailando en el techo, y paredes blancas con un toque de color difuminado en el espacio. Fue una experiencia hermosa. La comida es exquisita y el servicio genial. Recomiendo vayan a verlo. Es un restaurante maravilloso con una iluminación simplemente especial.

Cabiria

Plaza Luis Cabrera (Orizaba) 7

Col. Roma Norte.

Some months ago, I heard about a restauran in a neighborhood called Roma, which lighting was done by Teletec and I wanted to visit it, but I didn't remember which was it, beside I thought it was a coffee shop. I found the concept really interesting, it had to be with theatrical lighting or something similar. The restaurant was Cabiria, in Plaza Luiz Cabrera in Col. Roma and I visited it this weekend as a birthday request. (First time I chose a restaurant because of its lighting design).

I should say that the lighting is great, and it can create a whole atmosphere with it's dancing light tubes in the ceiling and white walls with a red smokey touch done with light, It was a beautiful plaza and a beautiful experience. The food was exquisite (italian) and the service great. I reccomend you to go. It is a marvellous restaurant with a special lighting design.

Cabiria.

Plaza Luis Cabrera (Orizaba) 7

Col. Roma Norte

Comiendo debajo del mar / Eating under the sea in the middle of the city

Ayer fui a una marisquería en la Condesa a la cual iba hace tiempo, cuando trabajaba por ahí, casi junto al Péndulo: La Ostra. Fue una experiencia increíble y nueva. Y no estoy hablando de la comida, porque era la misma que hace años, sino del lugar. Los materiales y la forma en la que la luz se reflejaba en ellos. Era similar a estar debajo del agua. Era un ambiente azul, pero no porque laluz fuera azul, en realidad había fluorescentes de colores en el techo, sino porque en todos los lugares donde rebotaba eran azules, blancos o irregulares, dándote una sensación de movimiento. Como si estuvieras caminando debajo del mar y en cualquier momento fueras a ver un cardumen pasar frente a ti.

No sé si fue intencional, o accidental, lo que sí sé es que es un ambiente increíble que no encuentras en otras marisquerías.

Dirección: Nuevo León 109 entre michoacán y vicente suárez.

Yesterday I went to a seafood restaurant in a neighborhood called Condesa: the restaurant was La Ostra. Before, when I worked near it, I used to go from time to time when I wanted to eat seafood. But this time was a completely new and incredible experience... and I'm not talking about the food, because although good, it was the same of years ago, but the place. It was similar to being under the water. It was a blue atmosphere, but not because the light was blue, there were colorful fluorescents in the ceiling, but because everywhere where the light bounced, was blue, white, and irregular, giving you a feeling of movement. As if you were walking under the water and at any moment you would see a school of fish swimming in front of you.

I don't know if it was intentional, or accidental, what I know is that it is an amazing atmosphere that I haven't found in other sea food restaurants.

Adress: Nuevo León 109 between Michoacán and Vicente Suárez

Ciudad de noche / City in the night

Las ciudades de noche son asombrosas e impactantes, y cada una tiene su personalidad, incluso cada parte de la ciudad tiener su propia personalidad, para nada igual a otra.
La noche en Estocolmo, cuando la hay, es fría y silenciosa, larga y con poca gente, sin carros y con autobuses nocturnos. Calmada.
La noche en Berlín es diferente. No es lo mismo la noche en el centro, llena de luces de comercios, y anuncios, que la noche en otras partes de la ciudad, en los parques, un poco más oscura y tenebrosa, pero segura.
La noche en la ciudad de México es muy diferente. A pesar de todo, sigue llena de vida, con luces moviéndose por todos lados, espectaculares, movimiento, ruido, tránsito, incluso burbujas... y... no caminas por todos los parques.
Cada ciudad es un pequeño universo, con su propia personalidad, sus propios colores, y sus propias luces.

Citites during the night are amazing and impacting, and each has its own personality, even each part of the city has its own personality, its own vibe, and is not as wny other else.
Night in Stockholm, when there is, is cold and silent, long and with little people, no cars and night buses. Calmed.
Night in Berlin is different. It is not the same night in downtown, full of lights of stores and advertisements. than night in other parts of the city, in parks, a bit darker and spooku, but safe.
Night in Mexico city es very different. Even though, it is still full of life, with lights moving everywhere, huge advertisements, movement, noise, traffic jam, even bubbles, and... you don walk through every park.
Every city is a small universe, with its own personality, its own colods, and its own lights.