The selected pendants, wall sconce and table lamp make these effects part of their construction. A shallow aluminium tray distributes light above and below, while solid crystal and textured glass produce reflections and refract light. With Ovo, a change of balance shifts the light from task to ambient, allowing the same tabletop to support different uses.

1. C’est la Vie by Slamp, designed by Adriano Rachele

Italy, 2026

Rather than replacing an ageing house in Roche, Cádiz, DL+A Arquitectos works with its existing structure to give the residence a new architectural identity. The renovation is most clearly expressed in the relationship between the house and its garden. Large glazed openings extend the living and dining spaces towards the swimming pool, while projecting concrete cantilevers provide shade and frame views of the surroundings. Local materials connect the contemporary exterior to its setting. The design also responds to Cádiz’s contrasting easterly and westerly winds, considering natural ventilation and thermal comfort as part of the architectural approach. Through structural reuse and carefully positioned openings, the project transforms the existing house into a more open, climate-responsive living environment.

2. Tray by Arkoslight, designed by Víctor Carrasco

Spain, 2026

Tray treats the space above a seating area as part of the lighting scheme. Its aluminium body balances a shallow horizontal plane with a vertical element, producing a suspended form with little visual weight. Diffused light from the underside illuminates the space below, while the open upper surface provides indirect light, reducing contrast across the interior. The 35 and 55 cm diameters allow the pendant to work individually or in arrangements suited to larger rooms. Textured white and black finishes emphasise the geometry, while warm LED light supports the quieter atmosphere of living rooms and lounges.

3. Ovo by Lumio, designed by Max Gunawan

USA, 2024

On a desk or side table, Ovo makes the transition from work to rest a physical gesture. Max Gunawan’s lamp for Lumio balances a broad light dome against a small illuminated glass sphere, with an anodised aluminium body that pivots like a seesaw. Tipping it towards one end selects focused task lighting; tipping it towards the other produces a softer ambient glow. A full rotation lets the user redirect the task light, while touch dimming adjusts its intensity. Battery power frees the lamp from a fixed position, allowing its light to move with activity around the room.

4. Il Pezzo 12 Wall Sconce with Two Lights by Il Pezzo Mancante

Italy

On a compact plot near Portugal’s Atlantic coast, Catribana House turns a prescribed pitched roof into the defining element of its architectural form. The tiled roof establishes a clear silhouette above lime-plastered walls, while the building steps away from an existing dry-stone boundary to create a private courtyard. Three staggered levels organise the entrance garden, interior and northern patio, allowing occasional views towards the Serra de Sintra. Exposed concrete defines the horizontal surfaces, contrasting with natural lime plaster that subtly changes colour throughout the day. Rather than relying on decorative elements, the exterior is shaped by the precise placement of openings, structural simplicity and the relationship between the house and its surrounding built environment.

5. Alambicco by Artemide, designed by Neil Poulton

Italy

Alambicco introduces a luminous axis into the room, with horizontal and vertical suspensions built from repeating glass modules. Neil Poulton arranges mouth-blown Murano glass around an extruded aluminium frame that houses the LEDs and optics. The Venetian balloton technique gives the glass a raised texture, with slight variations in shape from one module to the next. Refraction between the LEDs, internal diffuser and textured glass produces an inverted Z pattern that becomes visible at close range. Seen across an interior, the pendant establishes a rhythm of rounded volumes; closer inspection reveals the glassmaking and optical detail that shape its light.

6. Ulrich L and Diotima by Artemide, designed by Carlotta de Bevilacqua

Italy, 2025

Ulrich L und Diotima explores the relationship between geometric precision and the expressive qualities of glass. Designed by Carlotta de Bevilacqua for Artemide, the wall lamp pairs a restrained L-shaped support with a hand-blown Craquelé glass sphere, creating a contrast between structural simplicity and tactile complexity. The glass undergoes a controlled thermal-shock process that produces fine surface fractures, allowing light to interact with its irregular texture and cast delicate reflections across the surrounding wall. Integrated mains-voltage LED technology keeps the structure compact while maintaining effective illumination. Through its balance of material, form and light, the lamp turns a small architectural detail into a source of spatial atmosphere.

7. Lium by GEJST, designed by Johannes Linder Design Studio

Denmark, 2025

Lium approaches table lighting as a subtle intervention in the atmosphere of a room. Designed by Johannes Lindner for Gejst, its gently curved shade recalls an autumn leaf resting on a tapered, trunk-like base. The organic form also serves a practical purpose, allowing light to shift between direct and indirect illumination depending on the lamp’s orientation. Positioned on a dining table, it provides soft, glare-free light without interrupting conversation, while casting changing patterns of light and shadow across the surrounding space. Its low proportions and restrained silhouette make it suitable for residential interiors, restaurants and other settings where lighting contributes to a calm, intimate atmosphere.

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Selections is an editorial series in BIG SEE Magazine that presents carefully curated architecture, interior, and product design projects. Each article explores a specific theme, question or typology, highlighting projects that help us better understand the ideas, values and directions shaping the built environment today.