FLOS - Tatou T1 Wit

Tatou T1

"Tatou began life as a luminaire that crosses a traditional dome style with a surface that is interpreted through a creative language to screen and let the light filter through from inside. The first prototypes were suspension models, but they immediately bred into a family. Development in various sizes and situations in the domestic environment came naturally. The process began by looking for different ways to reconstruct membranes, conceived like Japanese armour: a series of metal buckles cleverly united by tapes with a powerful emotional value. There was then a process of simplification into overlapping, perforated, vertical bands riveted together. We translated the design into a mass production process by transitioning to injection moulding. The overlapping of these bands has been crystallised in three-dimensional leather, a variable section mould and by the geometric pattern. With Flos, the challenge was to obtain a mass produced product, while retaining strong artisan connotations. Tatou is French for armadillo: the mammal famous for its structure made up of plates of bone covered with a protective layer of horn. ‘Tatou’ has an emotional sound to it, which I think is consistent with the emotional function of this object.” Patricia Urquiola

designed by Patricia Urquiola, 2012