Page 98 - Designing Ways 258

BRIGHT IDEAS

Yoshiki Matsuyama's

New Portable

Lamp, Designed

for Ambientec,

Evokes the Soft

and Majestic

Form of a Whale

Yokohama, Japan

t surfaces gently from the depths of the tubular-shaped LED unit using unique the creatures that inhabit it is an important
ocean to and brings its warm and tender proprietary technology produces a warm, step towards protecting this delicate
Ilight into our living spaces. Between gentle light. ecosystem. Building on its experience
light design and marine biology: Ambientec “Cachalot” is an evocative declaration with the RGBlue brand of underwater
presents “Cachalot”, the new portable lamp of love for the depths of the sea. This photography lights, Ambientec is
designed by Yoshiki Matsuyama. project is Ambientec’s first design marking the launch of Cachalot with
Starting from its very name, the piece inspired by nature. Yoshinori Kuno, CEO the inauguration of a project to raise
evokes the fluid and majestic image of and founder of the brand, asked Yoshiki awareness of the documentary work done
a whale. Cachalot is an evocative and Matsuyama to develop a concept for a by marine biologists and underwater
symbolic object, without cartoonish or zoomorphic lamp. Drawing on his own photographers to protect the marine
overly-literal reference to the cetacean personal experience, the designer turned environment. The company will donate
figure, while perfectly grasping its to the shape of a whale. Unconsciously, 1% of Cachalot’s annual sales to charities
essential and familiar form. This portable his idea intersected with the passion supporting marine environmental
lamp can be freely placed on a shelf, among for the sea that has always been part of protection programmes. Initiative
books, on an end table, or surrounded by Ambientec’s identity. schedules will be shared on Ambientec’s
other favorite objects. Like all Ambientec In his early entrepreneurial days Kuno website. dw
pieces, it invites us to develop a genuine created RGBlue, a brand of professional
emotional relationship with it. lights for underwater photography still Technical sheet
“As a child, I was enchanted by the synonymous with excellence. Now with • Year of production: 2022
whales and cetaceans in picture books Ambientec, his visionary spirit has • Material and finishing: zinc die-
and adventure novels. Today as a designer brought that technical know-how into cast alloy, aluminum, silicon rubber,
I find the shape of these ocean creatures the world of design, creating wireless and acrylic resin, abs resin
fascinating: powerful and fluid, yet also rechargeable waterproof lamps. • Dimensions: main body 285 x W59 x
warm and gentle. It is this majesty imbued “With Cachalot, Yoshiki Matsuyama H94mm / charger stand φ 62xH8mm
with sweetness that I hoped to convey has exceeded my expectations. With this • Technology: led
with Cachalot. Its soft light spreads into poetic metaphor of the whale, he recalls • Power: rechargeable lithium-ion
the night and makes time seem to slow Ambientec’s technical background and battery 3.7v / 190mah
down - just as a whale moves through fully expresses our values: a deep love • Battery run time: 24 hours with
the depths of a silent sea, creating an for nature and the sea, along with respect low dimming, 12 hours with high
atmosphere of peace and quiet,” explains for the environment. Cachalot, like all dimming level
designer Yoshiki Matsuyama. our lamps, is also designed to last: this
Cachalot is a sculptural light, a fine is the opposite of the “disposable object” www.ambientec.co.jp/pages/en
example of the synthesis of cutting-edge mentality, and it comes thanks to our
illumination technology, precise artisan selection of ultra-durable materials and
craftsmanship and high-quality materials careful construction methods,” says
that sets Ambientec apart, along with its Yoshinori Kuno, CEO of Ambientec.
poetic design.
The base is die-cast zinc with a copper Ambientec: supporting underwater
plated finish. The lamp shade is made of photographers and marine biologists
pure, crystal-clear and durable acrylic, Making the general public aware of the
available in clear or dark gray. Inside, a situation of the ocean environment and

98 Issue 258 • dw