06.11.2011 Milan > Venice, FLOS and wandering about

Sorry for the inconsistencies of the posts. I'm totally going to backtrack to fill all the old posts, like my second day of Florence, way back then.

 

But for today, our last stop in Milan was to FLOS. I wasn’t expecting much from this visit, but I actually really enjoyed it. FLOS is a family company, and we were able to meet both the current CEO and his son, the man next in line to take over the company.

FLOS showroom

For those who don’t know, FLOS is a lighting design company. They do two types of lighting: Architectural (for shops and offices), and decorative (for home or outdoor). Currently they have a new line called soft architecture and it is actually really nice.

FLOS's new line: soft architecture. This is a ceiling light, but it looks like water ripples!

 

The ceiling lowers and raises so you can know the intensity of light at any height.

Going to the FLOS showroom was almost like going to somebody’s home. It was both warm and we felt welcome in the space. They were willing to answer any questions and show us anything we were curious about, as well as teach a bit of technical basics for lighting to help us understand better. At the end, we shared an espresso and hung around their kitchenette area while Rodrigo Rodriquez (the CEO) told us stories and openly discussed design topics.

I also shyly asked about the relationship between FLOS and Artimede (another leading Italian lighting design company), and Francesco Rodgriquez  (the son) said with humour, “They are a good competitor”

Afterwards, we left to Venice. Towing our suitcases (which have gotten heavier) up and down stairs was a horrible work-out. Not only that, but Venice doesn’t have any cars on the island, and all the bridges have stairs. Everybody was tired and sweaty by the time we got to the hotel.

For the first night, we just checked out San Marco, and had dinner together. Some of us went to wander the streets at night. Venice is full of narrow gaps between houses that lead to doors or dead ends or just water. It’s really nice and almost fantastical that this place exists.

 

1. an underground church that had been demoslished and saved what was left of it. 2. The Venice train station logo.

I found Flopsy's chocolate coloured sibling, at Zara Home! (which, for the record, has a distasteful selection of housewares)

San Marco!

1. Gondola rides, 2. Gondola men

The most fantastical thing about Venice is that at the end of a long and windy street, all you may find is water.