GUBI - Designers

In 1967, Mads Caprani's father, Micheli Caprani, acquired the lamp factory Rotaflex, which Mads Caprani joined 10 years later with a clear ambition to make his own mark with his pleated lampshades, which were highly unusual for their time but quickly became a favorite among his customers. In 1979, Caprani himself took over the company from his father and changed the name to Caprani Light, turning the small Danish company into a big global name with branches across Europe, in Chicago and Wisconsin in the US. With this generational shift, he also changed his own focus from just lampshades to designing entire lamps, initially in wood, and then exploring other natural materials such as metal and stone;

Of all Caprani's lamps, it is undoubtedly the Timberline floor lamp that both fulfilled all his ambitions for a lamp design and secured his legacy. Timberline is a unique and remarkable design with a timeless and classic aesthetic that naturally made it an instant bestseller and made it known as the 'Caprani lamp' around the world. Caprani passed away in 2014 at the age of 72 after realizing his dream of building one of the world's largest lighting brands. But this was certainly not the end of his story. Caprani's lighting designs have been rediscovered and even though his company is no longer in business, the interest in a Caprani design has never been greater. It is therefore a great pleasure for the world-renowned lighting brand GUBI to collaborate with Mads Caprani's family to bring back his iconic lamps to light up the lives and homes of his fans around the world. It is also in this context that the iconic 'Caprani lamp' is experiencing a renaissance with the relaunch of the Timberline Floor Lamp, which will be available in an exquisite combination of white plastic, birch and oak wood.

In the 1960s and 70s, American designer Bill Curry managed to capture the zeitgeist of those decades with his iconic lamp designs that reflected his wonderful surroundings, which were transformed into simple and intelligent ideas with clear visual narratives. In addition, Curry's interdisciplinary background and exposure to cutting-edge developments in electronics and the systems techniques of the aerospace industry gave him the experience and confidence to venture into industrial design and subsequently launch his own furniture company, Design Line Inc. in 1962.

Curry developed a new norm for lighting, which included a piece that merged the stand, bulb and shade into one organic form. In doing so, he was also credited with developing the first 'total look' lamp shape, removing the traditional 'base-bulb' concept and instead exploring the exposed bulb in a playful and autonomous way. It is also from this concept that one of his most iconic designs is centered around. Stemlite is characterized by its slender frame and oversized opal glass shade, creating a harmonious, timeless and classic expression that can survive generations. The series was developed with several models in different colors and materials, all characterized by the simple combination. This 'total look' was an instant hit, to which his series was honored with an Industrial Design Magazine Award for 'Best Lamps of the Year', where the US Department of Commerce exhibited the Stemlite collection in the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, as well as in Iraq, as the perfect examples of American design. After more than 50 national design awards, Curry was described as one of California's leading designers in 1969, just a few years before his death at the young age of 43. His design legacy lives on today as one of the true pioneers of American space-age design.

In addition to his iconic Stemlite series, Curry also managed to design the exquisite Obello Portable Table Lamp shortly before his death, meaning he never actually got to see it in production or name it. Obello was inspired by the Atomic Age, the Space Race and the pop culture that defined Los Angeles in the 1970s, which evolved into the visual form of the lamp. This Obello lamp is an iconic space-age design that serves as a strong statement piece both inside and outside the home as well as a functional lighting source.

In 1969, architects Claus Bonderup and Torsten Thorup graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Architecture and began working for Danish architect Henning Larsen in Copenhagen. From there, the two architects began a collaboration that lasted the majority of their careers and produced a string of outstanding designs.

Thorup and Bonderup's works are characterized by their honest and classic simplicity with a sharp focus on detail and quality, which is particularly evident in the Semi pendant from 1968. But it wasn't until the 80s that the then best-selling Danish design achieved worldwide recognition and iconic status, making it a favorite in many different interiors across the globe.

The Semi pendant light is a classic and unique design with a distinctive curved, enameled metal shade that provides a diffused, pleasant and conical light, making it ideal above the dining table or in the kitchen. Due to the lightness of the shape, the unique, timeless design and the different colors and sizes available, the Semi pendant light is a highly versatile design that fits perfectly in all kinds of environments in both private and public spaces.

Barba Corsini was a leading functionalist architect who won a number of international awards for his designs for the La Pedrera building in Barcelona. Corsini was greatly inspired by German architect Mies van der Rohe and American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Spanish architect's personal design style can be aptly described as 'powerful simplicity', which was also clearly represented by his Pedrera collection.

The talented architect Joaquim Ruiz Millet founded the Galeria H20 gallery in Barcelona in 1989, where he served as owner, cultural agitator, curator of exhibitions and editor of books and design objects. In 1991, when the restoration of La Pedrera took place, he discovered the beauty of the wonderful PD2 floor lamp, which he prevented from being thrown out. Ruiz Millet wanted to save Corsini's works and make them better known and, most importantly, accessible to the public. This began his collaboration with Corsini on the relaunch of the original designs he had made for La Pedrera back in the day.

These designs include the ANA, H20 and ABC lamps, all designed by Barba Corsini in collaboration with Ruiz Millet and inspired by Corsini's original RD2 design from La Pedrera. Common to all the lights is their prominent yet simple design with an understated elegance that makes them suitable for all kinds of interiors in both private and public spaces.

Italian designer and artist Gabriella Crepsi would have turned 100 years old in 2022, which GUBI is celebrating by putting the Bohemian 72 collection into production 50 years after it was first introduced. Throughout her extraordinary career in the design world, she managed to switch effortlessly between the royalty of Europe and the jet-set life of Hollywood, where her undeniably glamorous and sophisticated style made her the muse of designer Valentino and brought Audrey Hepburn, Gianni Versace and Hubert de Givenchy into her circle. Crespi's aesthetic was characterized by the duality between modernist functionality and the baroque, and the shift between clean lines and sensuous curves.

Bohemian 72 is an elegant, flexible and refined rattan collection that reflects Crespi's fascination with sculptural forms and her curiosity for Eastern cultures. During her lifetime, these exclusive pieces were only produced for private clients, but today, 50 years after their first introduction, GUBI has worked from her original drawings and brought this exceptional collection to life for the first time. The collection includes an armchair, a three-seater sofa, a stool and a floor lamp - and you can find this unique floor lamp here. This aesthetic and warm lamp lets air and light through its rattan construction with airy gaps so that when lit, it casts a beautiful light and shadows into the space around it.

Italian architect, designer and editor Gio Ponti is considered one of the most influential visionaries of the 20th century. Throughout his career, Ponti designed a variety of furniture and products, from cabinets, lamps and chairs to ceramics, glass objects and mirrors. He simultaneously erected buildings, including the iconic Pirelli Tower in Milan and the Denver Art Museum, which was built in 14 countries. Through his own design magazine, Domus, he promoted a curiosity and openness to innovative design.

Ponti's designs were highly influenced by the motto 'la dolce vita', allowing people to surround themselves with good design to better enjoy life to the fullest. This lively Italian lifestyle is clearly reflected in his portfolio, which continues to inspire artists and designers well into the future. Today, many of his designs are snapped up by savvy collectors looking to add a touch of Italian aesthetics and effortless elegance to their interiors.

Among his exquisite range are the F. A. 33 mirrors, originally designed in 1933 for the most prominent lamp, glass and mirror manufacturer of the time, FontanaArte, which Ponti and Pietro Chiesa founded a few years earlier. The F. A. 33 mirror has a slightly curved shape and an iconic and timeless look that adds a delicate, elegant touch to any interior design style. The mirror comes in two sizes in either a full or half length, making it possible to use the design in any room, where it functions as both a regular mirror and an eye-catching decorative element.

French architect and Art Deco modernist Jacques Adnet was an icon of French modernism. In 1925, he was recognized as one of the most promising young designers by both the Salon d'Automne and Les Expositions des Arts Decoratifs - and to this day, he remains one of the most honored French designers whose enduring and innovative work is still highly sought after. Throughout his career, Adnet was always one of the first artists to express new trends, where he was also one of the first designers to combine leather and glass in the structure and decoration of a piece of furniture - which is also the case with his Adnet mirrors.

In 1950, Jacques Adnet formed a partnership with a famous French fashion house, for which he developed a series of discreet yet remarkable leather-clad furniture and home accessories. He designed an elegant and distinctive round leather mirror with exquisite detailing that makes it highly eye-catching and decorative. In addition to the unique leather and polished brass details, the Adnet mirror is also available in different sizes and in both square and circular shapes, each adding a sculptural touch and timelessness to the hallway, bedroom or bathroom, where they are highly decorative;

Mathieu Matégot was a versatile, independent and self-taught Hungarian designer, architect and artist who spent most of his life in Paris, where he settled in 1931 after graduating from Budapest's School of Art and Architecture. In 1939, he volunteered for the French army, after which he was held prisoner in Germany until he escaped in 1944. His wartime captivity was an important career moment for Matégot, as it was here that he familiarized himself with the innovative material and technique he named Rigitulle, which later became the most characteristic feature of his works.

It is this groundbreaking technique and material that he is best known for, which he later patented so that he could add it to all his designs. He always produced a limited amount of products, only up to 400, which continued until the 1960s, when Matégot suddenly ended production and began working with tapestries, which he continued to do for the rest of his career. Just like textiles, the Rigitulle could also be bent, folded and shaped to give the furniture he designed a transparency, weightlessness and enduring modernity.

During his career, he created a wide range of striking designs that are today considered both iconic and contemporary. One of these designs is the Satellite, which was designed in 1953, with geometric shapes and an organic lampshade to create a unique sculptural aesthetic. The Satellite lamp is also characterized by the Rigitulle, which makes it possible to bend and fold a metal plate into the elongated pendant. The lampshade is available in a range of beautiful colors, each of which adds to the decorative value of the lamp in the interior. The perforated lampshade also provides a beautiful interplay of light and shadows that can create both a dramatic effect and atmospheric light in the surroundings.

"The man who enlightened Finland" - this is how the pioneering Finnish lighting designer Pavvo Tynell was affectionately named. Tynell was one of the founders of Taito Oy, where he became the first industrial manufacturer of lighting fixtures in Finland. Tynell became a more prominent designer in the 1930s and 40s, collaborating with some of the most recognized and famous Finnish architects, including Alvar Aalto as one of the most notable. Tynell's company Taito Oy produced luminaires for Alvar Aalto's major projects, such as the Paimio Sanatorium and the Viipuri Library.

Tynell was particularly honored for his work at the design studio 'the Finland House' in New York, which showcased the impressive work of Finnish designers and craftsmen. His elegant brass designs became an instant success in North America and he began creating lighting designs for the prestigious American company Lightolier. Tynell was an exceptional master craftsman who created his designs based on a traditional aesthetic with a modern sensibility, combined with an extensive use of perforated and polished brass as his primary material. As a result, Tynell's designs are predominantly characterized by brass in various shapes and forms, allowing anyone and everyone to create a home that exudes warmth and comfort. Today, Paavo Tynell's lighting sources are particularly sought after by international collectors, and prices for his most important works soar at auction.

Swedish design icon Greta M. Grossmann managed to maintain a long career spanning 40 years in both Europe and North America, where she was extremely active and influential in the male-dominated design world. She had many impressive achievements, all encompassing industrial design, interior design and architecture. In 1933, she completed her studies at the renowned Stockholm art institution, Konstfack, before immigrating to Los Angeles with her husband, Billy Grossman. Here she opened a highly publicized store on Rodeo Drive, where she was one of the first to bring modern Scandinavian aesthetics to Southern California. Her unique take on Swedish modernism was an instant hit in Los Angeles, and it wasn't long before she had amassed a clientele of celebrity clients.

Among all her achievements in design and architecture, she is best known for her industrial designs, with the Gräshoppa floor lamp and the Cobra table lamp being among her most famous works.