During 3daysofdesign, renowned Italian brand Flos showcased a curated selection of its most iconic design collections, including the Maap wall lamp by Erwan Bouroullec. This lamp stands out for its unique material selection and design process that involves the user in shaping it. Each piece is composed of an ultra-light material resembling paper and secured to a support fitted with light sources by magnetic dots.
The real beauty of the lamp is that you can crumple its shell to create unpredictable forms. Each user has complete creative freedom to shape and configure it, becoming a part of the design process.
Looking like a large cloud, the Maap lamp has a bold statement yet is very lightweight, thanks to the Tyvek material it is made from. It uses an ultra-light fibrous envelope, similar to paper in appearance but tear-resistant. Erwan explained, “In creating this lamp, I drew from two enduring obsessions: geometry and natural structures. Maap embodies precise geometry, which is then confronted with chaos during its installation on the wall. The envelope must be crumpled to form a microstructure that brings it to life and provides stability.”
Each lamp has a light element with four LED bulbs and a cross-shaped iron support that magnetically secures the shell, made from Tyvek. This casing is available in three sizes (Wall 1, Wall 2, and Wall 3), depending on the number of light modules mounted on the wall. At full length, the lamp measures up to 3.2 meters in width, which means it can cover an entire wall. Its height remains constant at 155 cm (approx. 61 inches).
When crumpled, the envelope takes on unique, organic forms, giving users complete creative freedom to shape and configure its appearance. The project started from paper but gradually switched to Tyvek due to its strength and resilience. The main body diffuses light across a broad surface, and the source seems to emanate not from a single point but from the entire illuminated area. It fills the space with a soft, ambient glow like a window, a glass wall, or sunlight itself.
Also Read: Tom Rossau Showcases Handmade Birch and Paper Lamps at 3daysofdesign
The casing is attached to the metal frame, or its structural ‘skeleton,’ using magnetic buttons called Dots, aligned with four magnetic points at each light source. These buttons are not just for functional purposes; they become a further expressive detail, as the designer explains: “With a kind of magic, these Dots subtly fix the casing in place and allow for endless reshaping.”
The name Maap could also be referred to as Maak, reflecting its strong connection to the ManMade theme. It is designed to be shaped for every user who can interpret its form as a lamp that can be small or expanded for different visions.
Special thanks to Donatella Matteoni, PR, Events & Cultural Initiatives Manager of Flos, for sharing the images and details with us!
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