Dynamic exhibitions. Educational events. Stimulating design. For Luminaire, 2018 was a year of thrilling moments that culminated in the opening of our newest showroom in Los Angeles where we made a global statement for the future of the company. With each occasion, Luminaire passionately espoused the transformative power of good design to both new and longtime followers of Luminaire. As the year ends, we reflect on the moments, people, and places that have made 2018 an important chapter for Luminaire.
For the first event of the year, Luminaire collaborated with FourTwoNine magazine to bring together five creative influencers – Claire Breukel, Winka Dubbeldam, Felice Grodin, Rene Gonzalez, and Bryan Thompson – for an interactive discussion exploring the subjects of architecture, art, design and social responsibility. The event concluded with a talk moderated by the founding editor of award-winning publication Clear Magazine, Ivana Kalafatic, who guided the discussion into an organic and compelling conversation exploring the perspective of what it means to be socially responsible in the world today.
Then, continuing our annual journey to Salone del Mobile furniture fair, we ventured to Milan to discover the latest in good design. In its 57th edition, crowds circulated throughout the city and to the nearby fairgrounds, turning the medieval web of streets into a roiling and barely navigable series of exhibitions and events bursting with a sense of palpable creativity. The Luminaire Tribe has been making the journey to Salone del Mobile for over 40 years, always excited to explore both the massive furniture fair and the numerous off-site events throughout the city at both showrooms and design districts such as Brera, Zona Tortona, and Lambrate. Here, we unite with our long-time partners and collaborators as well as acquaint ourselves with new designers and manufacturers.
During the week at the fairgrounds, we visited stands from our partners and new companies alike to experience each brand’s latest offerings. Throughout the countless displays we encountered, reoccurring themes began to present themselves. In many pieces, a sense of luxury was expressed through bespoke materiality and expressive finishing. Whether in polished marble that featured strong veining or through unique uses of wood, many pieces spoke to a consumer in search of unmistakable luxury.
As spring continued, we welcomed celebrated architect Chad Oppenheim to our Coral Gables showroom to celebrate the official launch of his first published monograph, Spirit of Place. The beautifully constructed book by Tra-Publishing is a poetic rumination of how architecture connects with the earth. His published work takes the reader into a world where boundaries are blurred between nature and architecture, heightening our awareness of the beauty that surrounds us. During the event Oppenheim gave an insightful lecture that provided a look into the images within the book, detailing each featured project by his world-renowned firm, Oppenheim Architecture.
In the beginning of summer, our Chicago showroom hosted the opening reception for its latest exhibition titled Achille Castiglioni 100, celebrating the centennial of the Italian master. The event coincided with NeoCon’s 50th edition as the world’s leading platform in commercial design. Over 200 guests experienced Castiglioni’s unique designs with a selection of deconstructed pieces, allowing viewers to closely examine his creative process. We were pleased to celebrate the opening and share a beautiful evening with dear friends.
In September we introduced Brazilian designer Jader Almeida into our collection with a selection of his poetic, nordic-inspired designs for Sollos available in our Chicago and Los Angeles showrooms.
In October we released our renovated website with a fresh perspective on design for our online platform. With the launch we brought upgraded features that connected the soul of Luminaire to our online audience. As the first step toward reshaping the idea of what an online store can be, we believe our on-site experience will be enriching and exciting.
Continuing our event programming, Luminaire Lab hosted the opening reception for its latest exhibition, Cassina as seen by Karl. The event celebrated the release of the eponymous book produced and published by Gerhard Steidl. A monochromatic platform presented iconic pieces, specially produced by Cassina in black and white alongside large-format reproductions of Karl Lagerfeld’s photographs which were shown for the first time in the United States. The cohesive exhibition adorned the front window of the showroom, creating a captivating visual image for those passing on NE 2nd Ave. in Miami’s Design District.
The end of Fall marked our largest accomplishment of the year, the opening of Luminaire Los Angeles. Spanning 15,500 square feet, the West Hollywood showroom features some of the most important brands in design and debuts of new works – including kitchen designs by Minimal exclusively for Luminaire. In addition to furniture, the showroom features an expansive collection of accessories and a compelling assortment of lighting from innovative brands. On the evening of the opening, over 450 guests were welcomed into the expansive space for an event which hosted a special performance choreographed by Ryan Heffington.
We ended 2018 with the opening reception for the second staging of the exhibition titled Achille Castiglioni 100, to continue the celebration of the Italian master. The event coincided with Miami Art Week 2018. During the event, over 200 guests – including designer Patricia Urquiola, Haworth CEO Franco Bianchi and Surface Magazine editor Nate Storey – experienced Castiglioni’s unique designs with a selection of deconstructed pieces, once again, allowing viewers to closely examine his creative process. Staged to resemble Castiglioni’s Milanese studio, a curated collection of his most iconic pieces for renowned brands Alessi, Flos, and Zanotta were on display.
As we enter 2019, we feel a sense of deep appreciation and gratitude to everyone for their continued support over the past 44 years. While enjoying the successes of the year, we are keeping our eyes on the horizon. As we prepare for an exciting and eventful year that will mark Luminaire’s 45th anniversary, we will continue our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what a design store can be.
December 2018
