Articolo Studios
Globally acclaimed Melbourne lighting brand Articolo Studios expands its popular Occhi wall sconce range with three new iterations – a horizontal pendant and fixed and rotating wall sconces.
For more than a decade, Articolo Studios has been at the forefront of Australian lighting design. Founder Nicci Kavals’ objective has always been to create products that are meticulously crafted and manufactured to last a lifetime. “Articolo designs are a piece of light sculpture, or light art, with complexity in the engineering yet luxuriousness in the layering of materials – remaining contemporary and minimal,” Kavals says.
“I see our designs as both current and timeless. Each Articolo piece is made-to-order and handcrafted by artisans. It’s important that each one reflects the many hands involved in its making, celebrating the craftsmen and women whose skill and talent I deeply respect. It’s the human element that is often lost through mass production, yet I strongly believe there is no substitute for the handmade.”
One of the Melbourne-based studio’s most well-received designs is the Occhi wall sconce, released in 2022. Suitable for both interior settings and against architectural facades, its design invites curiosity through an interplay of both circular and linear forms – a restrained cylindrical metal casing paired with a signature solid-cast glass disc, distinguished by a raised linear strip detail.
The glass disc features a gently tumbled, satin frost face, which delivers softly nuanced light refraction. It is both contemporary and minimal, yet it emits a gentle ambience. The brass and bronze fixtures include an electrophoretic clear coat for durability, while the exterior fittings feature an anodised finish engineered for longevity in exposed environments, including marine installations.
It is these features that offered scope for three new additions to the range, which are designed to shift between ambient and task lighting, allowing the collection to be specified across multiple applications in both residential and commercial settings.
The largest of the three iterations is the Occhi horizontal pendant, which features an elongated form that creates a focal point above a kitchen island or dining table, but looks just as striking above a bar or reception desk in non-residential environments. The design takes on the original Occhi circular form and balances the curved fittings along perpendicular, solid-brass rods, displaying the sophisticated engineering that marks every Articolo light. It is fully customisable in terms of both length and suspension height as well as finishes.
The Occhi fixed wall sconce offers a versatile lighting solution, designed to be installed as either an uplight or downlight. Its understated elegance makes it equally suited to powder rooms, hallways and entryways, while its IP rating extends its application to exterior settings. Subtle yet sophisticated, it brings a sense of calm refinement to any space.
Building on this signature silhouette, the Occhi rotate wall sconce introduces full 360-degree movement. While maintaining a minimal, composed appearance, its engineering allows for precise directional light, making it ideal for bedside use or intimate reading environments.
Both wall sconces present a refined exploration of form, materiality and function. Defined by softened geometry and a quiet sculptural presence, they embody the brand’s enduring commitment to the artisanal. “The engineering, finishing and craftsmanship of each is complex, yet visually there is a refined simplicity,” Kavals notes. “Material selections, finishes and technical detailing are considered to suit both interior and exterior conditions, while remaining resolved within the same visual language.”
