Euroluce: Controvento designs Alma for Contardi

4 April 2025

Controvento is not just a design studio but rather a network of people, skills and cultures applied to different creative contexts. Therefore, product and space design but also creative direction and cultural experiences.

They are the protagonists of the Milan design week with the Alma collection for Contardi that combines poetry and innovation, declining traditional materials in a refined and unpredictable way. The result creates amazement and wonder and strikes for its beauty and elegance, whose genesis is told by Gabriele Chiave, co-founder and creative director of Controvento.

Which aspect of Contardi is closest to your approach?

I believe that the similarity between Controvento and Contardi lies in the shared desire to innovate and find solutions starting from stimulating ideas. We both focus not only on technical innovation, but also on the emotional value of the products. The key element, however, remains maintaining a deep human connection, trust and belief between the partners who bring the projects to life.

How did the idea to combine fabric and glass in such an unprecedented way come about?

I don’t think anything completely “new” can be created today, but there are always opportunities to make unexpected connections between craftsmanship, technology and materials to produce something meaningful, inspiring and innovative. This allows us to celebrate and preserve traditional techniques, but in a completely different way. In this case, we have combined two timeless classics, a pleated fabric lampshade and textured hand-blown glass, with a hidden light source that adds an element of surprise and poetry thanks to the hidden technology. It is a floating lampshade inside a delicate glass bubble, which creates a truly magical effect.

What kind of light does Alma give off and for what context was it imagined?

Alma’s light is part of our collective memory, as it draws inspiration from the classic pleated lampshade that we all recognize. However, we wanted to give it a twist, combining the pleated pattern with the waves and textures of glass, adding an ethereal, almost mystical quality to the combination of these two classics of craftsmanship.

When we look at the lamp from below, we see a surprising void, without any light bulb, but the light source is clearly visible, inside the lampshade, gently illuminating the surface below with a soft, diffused glow. The collection is designed to be versatile: like a pearl necklace, it can be assembled in endless configurations, either as a table lamp, a totem or grouped in different ways. It is adaptable to any space, from a cozy living room to a majestic dining room or even a grand hotel lobby.

In which colors will it be available and what is the reasoning behind the color choice?

This year, we are introducing amber, gray and plum colors, in three sizes and distinct textures. Our goal is to expand the collection through new glass techniques and shapes. The colors we have chosen complement any environment without interfering with the essential function of the lamp, which is to provide quality light. The coloured glass only affects the sides of the lamp, creating a beautiful ambient light, while the light in the centre remains white and soft, shining on the surface below.

What kind of emotion and visual effect does this collection convey?

There is a sense of familiarity, comfort, safety and warmth in the design, along with a surprising and magical touch. The fluidity of the shapes, the soft colors and the use of familiar elements, such as classic shades and glass, combine in an innovative and poetic way, creating something new but still evoking a sense of nostalgia.

Related articles