After an extraordinary experience of how a unique selection of art and design creates a
powerful storytelling during TEFAF in Maastricht, we are back to our office with the lyrics of
Leonard Cohen’s Anthem, playing on the background:
“There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in”
This quote exactly reflects our experience for the lighting sculptures bringing
craftsmanship and tailor-made design know-how together at Brand van Egmond. In
today’s design scene, we observe more thousands of products created with similar
approaches. This state of mind leads the design world to stay in the comfort zone of
ultimate minimalism left from the modernism in the last century. More than 100 years we
rarely see brave approaches that crack the conventional path in design. If you don't crack
it, there is no light coming in. By saying this, we refer to cracking the conventional methods by using hand and artistic expression as the main focus of the production.
We first had the chance to experience Brand van Egmond lightings products at TEPTA’s
Showroom in Levent, Istanbul with a unique set up reflecting the essence of the company
with a delicate touch of curation. Represented by TEPTA in Turkey, Brand van Egmond is
bridging the craft tradition with contemporary lifestyles through a tailor made design
language.
Established in 1989 by William Brand, Brand van Egmond continues to grow without
loosing its roots of merging art and design through a crafted and custom-made approach. Bridging the tradition with creative expression, taking the light as contemporary sculptures show Brand van Egmond’s visionary approach in our day.
The essence
‘Light’ has been at the core of the human dialogue through ages. People used to make fire, taking the light at the centre of the conversation for meetings and gatherings. Taking this essence of light as a personal and daily fact, Brand van Egmond shows the intimacy by expressing the light for each part of the day, season and year.
William Brand, the founder of Brand van Egmond, is trained as an artist and architect,
graduated at the Utrecht School of Arts. William Brand’s artistic approach shows the
essence of the brand by creating lighting designs which have a powerful and sophisticated sculptural presence.
As the sun sets in a summer afternoon, the crowded gatherings turning into quite
dialogues and serene atmospheres with Louise.
William Brands comments on Louise:
“In the summer, evenings are my favourite part of the day; when the heat has subsided,
and the setting of the sun offers the most magical of skies. Candles are lit, and
glasses filled: people have a natural craving to gather around the freshly lit lights.
It was the pleasure of this moment that I tried to capture with Louise.”
As the first light of the day comes in, Ersa shows a gradual change of colour as the angle
of view or illumination changes, radiates a stunning glow. Ersa, named after the Greek
goddess of dew, hints as much to the fresh-faced start of a new day as the thirst for free-
spirited renewal.
William Brands comments on Ersa:
“With nature offering us limitless sources of inspiration, there is almost no need to look
any further than the true wonders that surround all of us daily. While this collection
appears simpler in form (although not in actual crafting), to me it radiates desire for life.”.
The custom made experience
The atelier is like a laboratory. It is open to experiments, surprises and unexpected
creative results. Taking the material in hands to shape, is an exciting journey that becomes the product itself.
Creating a lighting sculpture evoking emotions certainly adds character to space. The
experience becomes a never ending product, the process becomes the main subject of
design. Creating ‘light couture’ is in the core of Brand van Egmond’s design philosophy as
the crafts is getting together with flexible and custom made design.
Brand van Egmond is translating this know-how into different scales such as: hospitality,
office, interior, retail, public spaces and custom design projects.
After defining the concept William Brand starts working in the workshop, translating
architecture to sculpture by interpretation of light in different ways. This is how the
results turn into tailor-made products for special projects all over the world.
Kelp is used in the interior design project by the Chile based interior architect Jorge
Fuentes of Estudio Jorge Fuentes. Jorge Fuentes created a composition with four Kelp
elements in a brass finish. Due the open plan layout the Kelp composition is from every
corner visible and serves as the eye catcher as well as the anchor point in the interior.
Fractal is used in a private residence located in Sochi, known as “The Russian Riviera”,
by interior designers Anna Sukhorukova and Pavel Lesnevsky of Dinastia Designs.
The interior of Headquarters Brand van Egmond, situated in the historic town of Naarden, is designed by William Brand, as a venue with subtle surprises and beautiful contrasts showing Brand van Egmond products.
Hollywood, Hollywood Icicles and Diamonds from Amsterdam are sed in a residential
project on the lake of Geneva, which the interior was designed by Vertigo.
Text: Dilek Öztürk & Bilgen Coşkun
Photo credits: Courtesy of Brand van Egmond