FLOS STORIES: Arco - A design icon since 1962

Designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1962, the Arco floor lamp is one of the most recognizable lamps in design history. In a time of social change and more flexible living, Arco was a pioneering response to the need for functional and mobile lighting.

Instead of traditional ceiling solutions, Arco offered a free-standing lamp that could provide light exactly where it was needed - without installation or a fixed power outlet. The inspiration came from something as mundane as street lighting, where the light source extends over areas without being mounted overhead.

This idea was transferred to the home with Arco's long, curved arm that elegantly brings light into tables and living spaces. The result is a lamp that changes our perception of how light can be used in interior design.

True to the Castiglioni brothers' philosophy, Arco is created with functional beauty. The heavy marble base provides stability, the adjustable steel arc allows flexible positioning and the perforated shade provides heat dissipation. Even the iconic hole in the marble is well thought out - it makes it possible to lift the lamp with a broomstick, two people in between.

Arco is not just a lamp, but a piece of design history. Its form and function have inspired countless replicas and gained international recognition. In 2011 it was granted copyright protection and in 2012 Flos marked its 50th anniversary with a modern LED version of Arco - a tribute to the heritage of both the lamp and the brand.

Original text by Flos in FLOS STORIES