girasole

Girasole is a kinetic floor lamp emulating the intricate qualities of natural light for indoor spaces. A lot of countries in the northern hemisphere experience harsh winters without many hours of sunlight, depriving their inhabitants from a natural solar rhythm and exposing them to monotone artificial light for prolonged periods of time. Girasole references the movement of the sun, its constant changes in color and intensity and the dynamic interplay of the shadows it casts. The lampshade gently rises throughout the day, turning its direction from left to right and back, while adapting its color and brightness. This elegant, almost unnoticeable motion is created by a custom lead screw driving the LED panel along a path up an aluminium tube. The effect of an ever changing natural light setting can be intensified by combining two Girasole similar to the effect of a stereo sound system.

Ideation Prototype

The aim was to accurately reproduce all the qualities of sunlight. We began the prototyping process by building a 1:20 scale model of a room and investigated the effects of different light movements within the model. As a result of the process, we developed a combination of vertical and rotational movement that best mimicked the properties of natural light.

For the movement of the luminaire, we focused on a physical rather than a digital shift to improve the quality of light. We developed different mechanisms from moving shades to pulley constructions ultimately settling for a lead screw driven mechanism.

Functional Prototype

The feasibility of the concept was tested using a functional prototype consisting of a threaded rod and a paper tube.

Form Design and Color Scheme

The base has a stable stand on three rubber feet for smooth and precise movement. Various designs were created for the base, with the final decision being made in favor of a design that is visually connected to the tube and accentuates the light source.

The body is painted in a terracotta shade to create a mediterranean warmth and atmosphere, complemented by a strong blue to give the design a more modern appearance.

Final Prototype

Light

The light source is a custom LED panel with a high CRI value, providing sun-like brightness and colours. To achieve the most natural light colour and distribution possible several layers of diffusion including a fresnel lens were used to ensure high brightness without glare. The subtle light shifts of the luminaire aim to reproduce the essential characteristics of sunlight in order to give users a more natural sense of time, making it possible to experience the quality a sunlit window brings to everyday life, even in winter.

Base / Housing

The base of the Girasole contains a removable compartment with all other electronic components and the stepper motor. All components are connected via AUX plugs to ensure easy delivery, assembly and repairability of each individual part.

Inner Structure

A ball bearing on top stabilizes the mechanism inside. Iglidur Filament is used for the nut which connects to the lampshade, the low friction characteristic of the filament allowed us to optimize the movement.