Leonardo 1482 Interactive Light is an innovative architectural lighting fixture that masterfully combines Renaissance-era mechanical principles with contemporary LED technology. This sophisticated luminaire, designed by Maurice Dery and Jordan Dery, draws profound inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci's engineering legacy, specifically referencing the year 1482 when the Renaissance polymath began his inventive journey. The fixture, measuring 628 mm in diameter and standing 1524 mm high, employs an intricate system of eight synchronized wheels with historically-inspired cogs that control an array of mirrors and magnifiers. The design's fundamental operation involves LED light sources directing illumination through magnifying glasses, which then reflects onto precisely positioned mirrors. Through a simple chain-pull mechanism, the entire assembly of gears operates in unison to redirect the light projection from wall to floor, creating a dynamic interplay of illumination. The fixture's construction utilizes premium materials including aluminum and brass, manufactured using advanced machining techniques while maintaining the aesthetic essence of Renaissance craftsmanship. This remarkable fusion of historical influence and modern functionality earned the design a Golden A' Design Award in the Fine Arts and Art Installation Design category, recognizing its exceptional contribution to contemporary lighting design. The development process, which began in fall 2017, involved extensive historical research, detailed prototyping, and meticulous engineering to overcome the challenges of implementing period-accurate gear mechanisms while incorporating modern lighting technology. The result is a unique lighting solution that poetically resembles a rising sun, effectively bridging a 500-year gap between Renaissance ingenuity and contemporary lighting innovation.
interactive lighting, Renaissance-inspired design, mechanical illumination, architectural lighting, Da Vinci engineering, contemporary LED technology
CITATION : "Adam Dawson. 'Leonardo 1482 Interactive Light.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=438710 (Accessed on June 07, 2025)"
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