ABOVE: Melt Meee was designed for Philippe Starck’s SLS Hotel at Beverly HillsTOP LEFT:The new
innovation Fluxus, based on Karim Rashid’s Knit element LEFT: Andromeda’s light installation
influenced the entire design of Klubb Rouge, Beijing
2something more contemporary and so in the 1990s began working with Rome, covers a surface area of 60m , using 6,000kg of glass, steel and
leading architectural firms to develop designs of high technical and technology.
aesthetic value. Despite these contemporary designs,Andromeda has remained true
One of the first collaborations was with Philippe Starck, whom to its roots priding itself on the time-honoured art of glass blowing.
Vecchi credits for helping change the identity of the company.The Heading into the factory to meet master glassblower Mario, the
studios worked together again in 2008 for SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, amount of work and detail involved in each individual element of every
creating a fluid-like chandelier designed to Starck’s brief of “melting chandelier becomes apparent.Working from hand drawn sketches
Chantilly cream”. Melt Meee, as they called it, now forms part of the – everything is done by hand here – two artisans prepare the glass in a
collection with four models of 3, 8, 16 and 24 lights in seven colours, 1,000 degree furnace with the third adding artistic touches using steel
some of which are on display in the showroom. Open only to trade, the tools, the same as those used 400 years ago.The skill comes in knowing
space above the factory floor is just the beginning of the design process when the glass is ready to be shaped, a second too late and it solidifies,
however, demonstrating Andromeda’s ability to customise designs. having to be re-worked. Not something I witnessed as these men are
Projects featuring their creations include Gramercy Park Hotel in professionals.
NewYork,W Hotel in Atlanta, the newly refurbished Langham in Every single piece – a large chandelier has over 1,000 individual
London, Four Seasons Hotel in Florence,Trianon Palace Hotel in pieces – is made and checked by hand before moving through to the
Versailles which won a European Hotel Design Award for best Lobby ‘cold’ part of the factory to where Andromeda’s founder RobertoVecchi
& Public areas in 2008, and Klubb Rouge in Beijing where the light can be found. Despite his advancing years, he is very much hands-on,
installation influenced the entire design of the project. One of its most overseeing the process of fitting the lighting element.
recent innovations is Fluxus, the result of a collaboration between It can take the team three days to make one chandelier by hand
Karim Rashid, who designed Andromeda’s Knit element, and artist meaning that each is genuinely bespoke and can be modified to a
MichelaVianello, whose inspiration gave concrete shape to the overall designer’s needs.As a result, the custom-made aspect of the company
concept of the sculpture.The piece, installed in a lifestyle store in generates 70% of the revenue. Not bad for a back street business.
WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 129
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