Description:

Coup de Foudre is a suspended modular lighting system that straddles the line between function versus sculpture, frugality versus grandeur, and nature versus technology. The literal translation of the French namesake also has a striking duality in English; “stroke of lightning”, or “love at first sight”.

The catalyst for the lighting system emerged from an entirely pragmatic opportunity — to utilize the dead space between parts built within industrial selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printer machines. Filling these gaps with smaller maneuverable parts minimizes unnecessary material loss and increases machine production yield. Lighting was an industry identified as a platform where the unique capabilities of additive manufacturing could be applied in novel ways, in particular with the interplay of lighting effects with otherwise unachievable geometries.

The design elements of the product were focused on naturally occurring patterns — reminiscent of living organisms demonstrating beauty in a manner of randomized efficiency. Particular attention was drawn to the fractal-like structure of branching columns, similar to widely occurring natural phenomena as diverse as lightning, tree formations and blood vessels. This inspiration led to a form of biomorphism — where the design intent became an abstraction of these naturally occurring shapes into a functional device.

The physical assembly of the product comprises of five main additively manufactured SLS components connected by lightweight powder coated aluminum rods:

-Central hub that houses the distribution board and electronics

-Simple pronged junction(s) joining the multitudes of “branches” together

-Bulb holder(s) that safely retain clip-in LED bulbs

-Lattice structure lightshade(s) screw over the bulb holders for easy bulb replacement

-Subtle ceiling rose designed with a seamless connection to the ceiling

This modular design allows the structure to be scaled up or down to fit nearly any ceiling space or room appropriately. This is made possible with the optimization of material properties in Design for Additive Manufacturing (DFAM), where the design takes into account the yield strengths of the junctions. The internal cabling stemming from the ceiling, through the central hub and to the various branches, allows for full wiring concealment and minimal distraction.

The finished product is unapologetically bold in scale and presence. Adaptable dimming blurs the line between a functional illumination product and a sculptural artifact during daylight hours. The fractal “stroke of lightning” inspiration has led the product to organically become equal parts aesthetic and efficient; guaranteed to be “love at first sight”.