Interview about Eternal Flame Pendant Light, winner of the A' Lighting Products and Fixtures Design Award 2025
The Eternal Flame pendant lamp is a unique design inspired by the mythology of the phoenix. Its warm, vibrant colors evoke the spirit of the legendary bird. The lamp's lighting system highlights key details, such as the feathered edges and eyes, while providing ambient light. Crafted from durable glass and metal, the lamp is both visually appealing and functionally sound
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsIn the culture and history of my country, as well as many other nations, the phoenix symbolizes rebirth, rising from the fire, and immortality. This symbol of strength and renewal has served as a profound source of inspiration in the design of this lighting piece. I intended to seamlessly blend these ancient concepts with contemporary design, presenting the traditional pattern in a modern form while incorporating modernity through the form, technical details, and the use of innovative, state-of-the-art lighting technology. This fusion created a harmonious balance that both preserves tradition and embraces innovation.
In the feather and wing section, achieving a precise and balanced color effect, blending shades of yellow, red, and orange, was of paramount importance to me. Furthermore, considering the essence of the phoenix as a symbol of rising from the fire, my intention was to subtly convey a sense of warmth and the flames of fire to the viewer through the light refraction created within the glass by the LEDs.
My research into historical depictions of the phoenix greatly influenced the dimensional choices and proportions of the Eternal Flame Pendant Light. In various cultures, the phoenix is often portrayed with expansive wings and an elongated body, symbolizing strength and rebirth. These visual elements inspired my decision to design the pendant with an impressive 160cm length, capturing the expansive and dynamic nature of the mythical bird.Additionally, since this design was intended for high ceilings and spacious environments, the dimensions were carefully selected to ensure optimal lighting coverage while maintaining a balance in weight and structural integrity to avoid any issues with ceiling attachments. The intricate feather details were inspired by the delicate textures often found in depictions of the phoenix, striking a harmonious balance between artistry and structural robustness
In designing this pendant light, one of my main goals was to ensure that direct light would never cause glare or distract the viewer’s gaze. Instead, I wanted the light to subtly and naturally illuminate the space, creating ambient lighting. To achieve this, I used two types of light sources. One was LED strip lights placed along the edges of the feathers, and the other consisted of bulbs in the main body of the fixture. These bulbs, positioned through a hollow in the metallic body, distributed the light in an up-and-down manner within the space. The decorative section also benefited from the light effect, with light emanating from the hollow at the phoenix’s head.To achieve balance, the power and suspension cables were evenly distributed across the left and right, as well as the front and back, ensuring that both the aesthetic balance and structural integrity of the piece were maintained.
As I mentioned in my previous response, one of my main priorities was to prevent glare. Therefore, both the LED strips and the hollow sections for the up-and-down lighting were carefully positioned to ensure that ambient lighting was evenly provided without the direct view of the light source. Alongside this, the desire to evoke a sense of fire and warmth, as well as convey the color essence of the phoenix in the wings, helped clarify and solidify the concept for the spatial design.
In my opinion, within cultural and historical symbols lies a light that connects us to the future. Whether in design or any aspect of life, the countless lessons left by our ancestors can serve as guiding torches to illuminate the path ahead. Today, innovation is often equated with technology and modernity, but for me, the fusion of history, modernity, and technology can offer a different path, one that reflects on the past, stays present in the now, and strives for a better future. This approach is also true in the realm of lighting. Light has been an inseparable element of science, art, poetry, and many other fields throughout history. Therefore, this mysterious essence can act as a bridge between the past and the future, shedding light on various topics and illuminating them in new ways.
In this design, I used shades of red, yellow, and orange to evoke the feeling of fire from which the phoenix rises. Just as fire can reduce the cold and warm up a space, I believe lighting can also bring warmth to the environment. I believe that when lighting is used correctly in architecture and lighting products, it can evoke various emotions in the user. The Eternal Flame Pendant Light was designed with the same purpose in mind, to bring warmth similar to the fire within the phoenix, creating a sense of comfort and warmth in both the space and the user.
My academic background is in industrial design, and I have always worked with various products. During the design of this pendant light, I also took courses in interior architecture, lighting design, landscape, and Face, which broadened my perspective beyond just designing a lighting product. These experiences helped me gain a deeper understanding of the environment, user needs, and practical scenarios, allowing me to approach the design as a holistic experience.During the three months spent developing the Eternal Flame Pendant Light in Tehran, one of the unexpected discoveries that significantly influenced the final design was the interaction between light and shadow in the space. Initially, my focus was on creating soft, ambient lighting, but as I experimented, I realized that by using specific materials and precise design, I could create complex and captivating shadows that added depth to the design and produced dramatic effects in the space. This discovery led me to refine the positioning and dimensions of the light sources, ensuring that not only would the ambient lighting be optimized, but the overall aesthetic of the design would also be maintained.These experiences, combined with the broad perspective I gained from the architecture and lighting courses, helped me design the Eternal Flame Pendant Light in a way that aligns both technically and artistically with the concept of the phoenix and the inspiration from fire.
In designing the Eternal Flame Pendant Light, one of the biggest challenges was joining two different materials, the bronze metal structure and the glass feathers. My goal was to maintain the visual lightness of the design while utilizing these strong and beautiful materials. To achieve this balance, I employed specific techniques in connecting the two materials to minimize the weight of the metal while still providing the necessary strength. Additionally, for the feathers, I used lightweight glass with a thin thickness, which both showcased the desired delicacy and aligned well with the metal structure. Ultimately, through precise engineering of the connections and using materials with unique properties, I was able to create a design that is both structurally sturdy and visually light and elegant.
The Eternal Flame Pendant Light represents a unique fusion of cultural heritage and contemporary innovation. This design provided an opportunity to establish a new and meaningful connection between the past and the present, inspired by symbols such as the phoenix. In today’s world, lighting design is not just a tool for illumination; it is a language that conveys aesthetics and emotions. Through this project, I aimed to use this new language to communicate cultural and emotional concepts.As the director of Designooor Lighting Magazine, I encounter new and creative designs daily, which motivate me to keep pushing forward. Therefore, the absence of such a connection between contemporary designs and cultural or symbolic concepts may have been the catalyst for incorporating these innovative ideas into this project. I believe that Eternal Flame could open a new gateway for inspiration and creativity in the world of lighting and design, where modern technology and traditional concepts come together to create a fresh and distinctive experience in space design. This design not only focuses on aesthetics but also considers how light impacts emotions and human psychology. Ultimately, this project can serve as a spark for a broader conversation about the relationship between culture, technology, and design in the future.
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