It all began with a simple need: Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni desired to create a pendant light with direct, downward-oriented light, but which would work independently from a ceiling outlet. While searching for an idea to conceive this luminaire, the brothers were guided by their design philosophy: “Good design always requires precise observation.” The inspiration for Arco emerged as the Italian designers were looking at streetlights. Fascinated by their capacity of illuminating large areas around them because of the lantern’s long arm, they developed Flos Arco – thereby laying the foundation for all arc lamps that should follow.
Flos Arco
„If you are not curious,
forget about it.” Achille Castiglioni, designer of Arco
forget about it.” Achille Castiglioni, designer of Arco
Arco Bestsellers
Flos Arco – an iconic arc lamp for glare-free zone light
With Arco, the two Italian designers Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni created the first ever arc lamp in 1962. Ten years later, this luminaire became part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and today, nobody can doubt its cult status.
The arc lamp by Flos owes its high recognition value to its base in noble Carrara marble and its slim, long arm made from stainless steel. The latter is extendable, so that you can adjust the height of the lamp head. Its widely protruding dimensions enable Arco – in contrast to other floor lamps available at the time of its conception – to illuminate areas that are at a large distance from the lamp base. The maximum horizontal distance between lamp head and plinth amounts to 200 cm.
Flos Arco gives a direct, glare-free light which is directed downwards, which makes it perfect for illuminating dinner or coffee tables. Unlike traditional pendant lights, this luminaire does not require a ceiling outlet. As a result, Arco combines the advantages of a floor lamp with those of a suspended luminaire.
The arc lamp is named after its form (ital. arco = engl. arc) and is available with an E27 socket as well as with an LED module. Additionally, all spare parts can be acquired, so that you have a guarantee to enjoy your arc lamp for many years to come.
Flos Arco – with socket, LEDs or crystal base
Flos Arco with socket
A striking design characteristic of Flos Arco is the hole pattern inside the lamp head. If you choose a light source with a mirrored head for Arco, you get the benefit of very special light effects. In this case, the arc lamp will shed its light not only directly downwards to brighten your dining or coffee table, but it will also cast a fascinating light pattern on the ceiling. Arco with a socket has a switch integrated on its cable, so it is simple and easy to handle.
Flos Arco LED
To celebrate the arc lamp’s 50th birthday, Flos launched an LED version of Arco. In contrast to the predecessor model, it does not cast a light pattern on the ceiling, but it has other benefits: the integrated LED module convinces with its high luminous flux of more than 1.100 lumens. This means that Arco LED is sufficiently bright for illuminating larger tables and areas in the living or dining room – while being extremely energy-efficient. To create an especially comfortable atmosphere, you can dim the light via a dimmer on the cable.
Arco K 2022 Limited Edition
For the 60th birthday of the Arco, Flos also came up with something very special. The Italian manufacturer presents the Arco K 2022, a limited edition of the arc lamp, which differs from the other models by its base. This consists of transparent crystal glass instead of Carrara marble. This gives the legendary arc lamp a noble appearance and makes it an extraordinary eye-catcher. The Arco K 2022 with E27 socket is only available in limited quantities.
Spare parts and lamps for Flos Arco
Spare parts for Arco
In our shop, all spare parts for Flos Arco are available, so that you can be sure to enjoy your arc lamp for many years.
Lamps for Arco with socket
We recommend using a silver bulb with a mirrored head. It will produce a fascinating light pattern on the ceiling.
Flos Arco – this is how the first arc lamp came about
An arc lamp with an elaborate design concept
Flos Arco is marked by aesthetic sophistication and clever refinement: the Castiglioni brothers assembled a steel bow with a heaving plinth in high quality Carrara marble which ensures a firm support. For Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni, the very wide span of this bow was particularly important, so that a person carrying a tray could easily pass behind another person seated at the table. And the two brothers also made sure that the Arco floor lamp could be moved: despite its impressive weight of 65 kg, the marble base can be carried comfortably from A to B. This is made possible by a sophisticated detail of the design: a small hole inside the plinth. You can insert a broomstick and then lift the lamp base in twos, without any problems.
Pier and Achille Castiglioni – Italian masters in a class of their own
Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni count among the visionaries of their time and had great influence on following generations of Italian and international designers. Both were born in Milan, Pier Giacomo in 1913, and Achille in 1918. The two of them studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan, as well as their brother Livio. In 1937, Pier Giacomo and Livio started a design practice and were joined by Achille in 1944. In 1952, Livio left the practice and continued on his own.
Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni were interested in technology and engineering sciences as well as in art and design. Both created countless design objects that reached cult status, until Pier Giacomo’s untimely death. Among their greatest successes are their luminaires, which to this day are marked by maximum functionality and high aesthetic sophistication.
The Castiglioni brothers and Flos
The name of Castiglioni cannot be separated from the Italian luminaire manufacturer Flos. Already before Flos was founded, in 1962, a luminaire took shape which was to be integrated in the premium brand’s assortment: Luminator. This filigree uplight, which the brothers designed in 1955, was the first to bring in an award for Flos: the coveted Compasso d’Oro.
Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni were renowned for exploring new possibilities of materials and forms in a playful way. A good example are the Taraxacum luminaires. They are made from Cocoon, a new kind of material from the design world of the 1960s, which opened up new creative possibilities to the brothers, due to its cloud-like structure. The Cocoon-shade envelops the lamp frame while making sure that the latter’s structure stays visible underneath. The result is a very original, organic design.
The last collaborative work of the two brothers, before the untimely death of Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1968, is Snoopy. This iconic table lamp by Flos, with a marble plinth, is named after the famous comic dog, and it also looks like him: the uncommon form of the lampshade resembles the shape of the prominent dog’s head.
Reduced designs that became world-famous
After his brother’s death, Achille Castiglioni continued to achieve further successes, particularly with luminaires designed for Flos. Among his most famous creations are the pendant light Parentesi, the table lamp Lampadina and the uplight Stylos. These three luminaires are representative of the designer’s sober, functional approach of composition. Achille Castiglioni always focused on what was essential and reduced the objects he created to the absolute necessary. Owing to this style, he became the model of numerous designers after him, and he continues to be an inspiration even after his death in 2002. His works as well as those of his brother still delight countless design enthusiasts and can be found in renowned museums all over the world – from Milan to New York.
