Ingo Maurer, one of the leading companies for the design and production of innovative design lamps, has developed a new design concept with Plug & Light system. “Orbittu” is a wall or ceiling luminaire whose base can rotate around its own axis thanks to technology from Insta GmbH. The hemispherical housing with lateral light emission is reminiscent of a miniature observatory, to which a mirror, also rotatable, is attached via an asymmetrical bracket.
New technologies have always been an inspiration for the Ingo Maurer team. The “Orbittu” is also the best example of a symbiosis of design and technology. The dynamic lamp, designed by Axel Schmid and David Engelhorn from the Ingo Maurer team, is connected to a light socket with Plug & Light technology. This specific magnetic connection allows the “Orbittu” to rotate freely through 360°. A small LED spotlight integrated in the housing casts light onto an elliptical mirror blade made of aluminium. This is also freely rotatable, catches the light and casts it to the desired location – sometimes as a spotlight directly, sometimes indirectly via the wall into the room. This creates soft, indirect light. As the mirror blade has a shiny and a structured side, the lighting effect can be individualised. The appearance of the compact lamp changes with every turn. This playful aspect is a key feature that is always found in Ingo Maurer designs.
The Plug & Light system was developed by the electronics technology centre Insta GmbH. The heart of the system is an interface that holds together energy-supplying light sockets and light attachments with the help of magnetic force. The moment the light attachment is plugged on, the lamp is ready for operation. “We see Plug & Light technology as a way of individually connecting lamps to walls or ceilings in a small space.
Thanks to its practical ingenious connection technology and simple installation in any location, the “Orbittu” can be used wherever light sockets are installed. As indirect light is cast onto the wall or direct light into the room by turning the mirror, the “Orbittu” also shows many faces in its application. The direct light serves as a reading lamp next to the bed or in the kitchen for cutting vegetables. The indirect light can be used as room light and for orientation in the hallway, for example. Ingo Maurer GmbH has been an owner-managed company for the development and production of extraordinary design lamps for over 50 years. The company has also made its mark internationally with the realisation of design commissions in both the private and public sectors. Among the best-known designs for series production are the Ingo Maurer Bulb (1966), the Ingo Maurer YaYaHo low-voltage system (1984) and the Lucellino wing lamp (1992). The illumination of the underground stations “Westfriedhof” (1998) and “Münchner Freiheit” (2009) in Munich as well as the pendulum “Flying to Peace” for the Messe Frankfurt (2018) and the “Silver Cloud” for the Munich Residenztheater (2019) are just a few highlights on the long list of commissioned works and spectacular individual pieces for private customers and public buildings. After the death of founder Ingo Maurer on 21 October 2019, Maurer’s daughter Claude, who had already been managing director at his side since 2011, is now running the family business in close coordination with the team that has grown over many years.