Shoji
Made by Davide Groppi
The Shoji is a collaboration between lighting designer Davide Groppi and Italian outdoor furniture studio Paola Lenti, two practices united by a sensibility that treats atmosphere as a design material in its own right. Its name is borrowed from the translucent rice-paper screens that partition space in traditional Japanese architecture, and the form holds that reference with quiet fidelity.
Each lamp is constructed by sewing together semi-transparent polyester cord, a labor-intensive process that echoes the paper weave of its architectural antecedent. The resulting glow is diffuse and intimate, spreading without drama across a room or a garden terrace. A base of black varnished stainless steel grounds the piece with minimal visual presence, allowing the softly luminous body to read as almost weightless.
- Hand-sewn semi-transparent polyester cord construction
- Black varnished stainless steel base with plastic spacers
- Resistant to atmospheric agents, suitable for indoor and outdoor use
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Shoji
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Shoji floor lamp be used outdoors?
Yes. The Shoji is engineered to resist atmospheric agents, making it appropriate for covered outdoor settings such as terraces, loggias, and garden pavilions. Its polyester cord construction and treated stainless steel base are both selected for durability in exterior conditions.
What is the quality of light the Shoji produces?
The Shoji produces a diffuse, low-contrast glow. The semi-transparent polyester cord filters the light source in a manner directly analogous to traditional Japanese shoji screens, eliminating harsh gradients and creating an ambient warmth rather than directed illumination.
Who designed the Shoji lamp, and how did the collaboration come about?
The Shoji is a co-design between Davide Groppi, a Piacenza-based lighting designer known for poetic restraint, and Paola Lenti, a Milan-area studio recognized for its innovative use of textile and cord in outdoor furniture. The collaboration brought Paola Lenti's expertise in woven cord construction into dialogue with Groppi's philosophy of light as atmosphere.
What materials are used in the Shoji's construction?
The shade is formed from hand-sewn semi-transparent polyester cord. The structural base is stainless steel with a black varnished finish, stabilized with plastic spacers. All materials are chosen for their ability to age gracefully in both interior and exterior environments.
How does the Shoji relate to Davide Groppi's broader design philosophy?
Davide Groppi's practice consistently prioritizes the emotional quality of light over the visibility of the fixture itself. The Shoji exemplifies this approach: the object recedes, and what remains is the quality of illumination it produces, a principle he has described as making light, not lamps.