Italian lighting giant Flos gets the boutique treatment at Lightform’s new showroom in Toronto.
Lightform, a distributor of top-notch lighting fixtures, recently overhauled a warehouse space nestled on a quiet side street in the city’s westend, only a block away from Queen Street West where galleries, espresso cafes and oyster bars are typical of the streetscape. With the help of design studio Castor, the formerly derelict space is now an expansive shop showcasing over 30 lighting manufacturers from around the world, including Vibia, Marset, Roll & Hill, Nemo, and Metalarte.
But Flos is the brand that’s getting the most jewel-box-like treatment. When the Italian company reorganized its distribution in Canada recently, Lightform suggested they open a shop-in-shop at its new space. Flos jumped on the idea and the north portion of the showroom is designed similarly to the Flos showrooms in New York and Paris. Mounted on white walls and propped up on shipping crates, lighting options, by such names as the Bouroullec brothers, Patricia Urquiola and Philippe Starck, are making the space dazzle.
It’s worth popping in just to experience first-hand Ron Gilad’s Wall Piercing installation, where a ceiling-height pattern of circular light rods are embedded right into the wall, offering a dramatic and colourful display. There’s also Thierry Dreyfus’s Wall Rupture, a sculpturally stunning gold-leaf gash that looks like the wall has cracked right open. The customizable piece was a hit at Milan’s Euroluce last April.
Lightform is located at 267 Niagara St. and is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
