Light-emitting diode, or LED, lighting stands in direct contrast with the lighting that most of us are used to. Unlike household incandescent bulbs that emit large quantities of heat and burn out quickly, LED light operates with an efficiency that makes it a new and important tool in design. Televisions, light bulbs, and displays have been making use of LED for years. Now, designers are beginning to use them as key elements in a variety of pieces.
Mathieu Lehanneur is one of those designers working with the revolutionary lighting. In fact, he is one of the forerunners. Lehanneur’s recent installation, Les Cordes, is a light fixture that christened the newly reopened Chateau Borely in Marseille, home to the Museum of Decorative Arts, Ceramics, and Fashion. Working with only the materials of LED light, glass tubes, and a lighting control system, Lehanneur designed and created a modern, more abstract take on the chandelier. Les Cordes hangs elegantly but seems out of place in juxtaposition 18th century manor. Geometric and rounded shapes protrude from the ceiling at varying lengths, giving the installation a sense of depth. At first glance, the closeness of the glass tubes gives a sense of chaos, but upon a closer look the shapes seem meticulously, almost mathematically organized.
With such details, it should come as no surprise that Lehanneur is heavily influenced by science. At a TED talk in 2009 on science-inspired design, Lehanneur, showcases some of his most unique works, including an antibiotic pill with layers that get smaller as the regimen continues and a ball that eliminates white noise.
Other recent projects also showcase Lehanneur’s commitment to work with LED light. A recent installation at Electric, a hip new space in Paris that overlooks the Eiffel Tower, features light projectors and glass tubes similar to those found in Les Cordes dangling from a tree that spans two floors. Another project, Cloudy Lamp, emits LED through gradient glass and slowly transitions from translucent to transparent.
These light installations all would not have been possible without the use of LED light. Its compact, comparatively cool nature makes it a material that is being seen much more frequently in design. In addition, its long lifespan (some 40% longer than traditional incandescent bulbs) make for design that is built to last and eco-friendly, two checkmarks off the modern designers’ list of requirements.