At Milan Design Week 2026, Flos unveiled two new lighting collections that move in parallel yet distinct directions. Nocturne by Konstantin Grcic and Maap by Erwan Bouroullec were presented across two locations: a site-specific installation at the Flos Professional Space and a multimedia environment at the brand’s flagship.
Rather than unify the presentations under a single narrative, Flos offered each designer full creative autonomy. The result is a study in contrast—two approaches to light that explore its immateriality through entirely different languages. As Executive Chairman and Artistic Supervisor, Piero Gandini notes, “design engages with the immaterial nature of light, and it is always a source of pride for us to work with talents such as Konstantin and Erwan to produce such unique pieces.”
A Cinematic Study in Precision: Nocturne
Courtesy of Flos.
With Nocturne, Grcic introduces a modular lighting system defined by restraint and atmosphere. Inspired by the quiet glow of moonlight, the collection casts both direct and indirect illumination, producing a soft, almost otherworldly presence. Each piece is composed of hot-formed borosilicate glass paired with aluminum, offered in floor, suspension, and wall-mounted variations that adapt seamlessly across spaces.
The system is structured around a low-voltage extruded aluminum profile, where lighting heads can be positioned along the stem, allowing for flexible and highly customizable configurations. Despite its technical precision, the design remains subtle—prioritizing ambiance over spectacle.
Grcic draws inspiration from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick, referencing the film’s minimal yet deeply atmospheric environments. This influence is echoed in the installation itself: a grid of luminous white panels extends through the space, revealing ephemeral images of iconic design objects that interact with the presence of the lamps. The effect is both cinematic and contemplative, where objects exist not as isolated forms, but as part of a larger, quietly orchestrated whole.
Organic Form and Creative Flux: Maap
Courtesy of Flos.
Courtesy of Flos.
In contrast, Bouroullec’s Maap embraces spontaneity and transformation. Constructed from an ultra-light fibrous material reminiscent of paper, the lamp takes shape through manual manipulation. Fixed with magnetic points, its structure remains intentionally unstable—capable of being reconfigured, reshaped, and reimagined over time.
The resulting forms are organic and unpredictable, shifting with each interaction. Spanning up to three meters in width across three sizes, Maap reads less as a fixed object and more as a living surface, one that evolves through gesture and use.
Presented within an immersive installation titled Sound of Chaos, the work explores the tension between order and disorder. The environment pairs light with sound and moving image, creating a sensory landscape that reflects the fluidity of the piece itself. Bouroullec references Chaos: Making a New Science as a conceptual anchor, describing an interest in forms that emerge from conditions rather than predetermined outcomes.
A complementary video by Nicolò Terraneo extends this exploration. Abstract and layered, it mirrors the fragmented geometry of the lamps, unfolding against a stark black backdrop that amplifies the installation’s visual intensity. Within the flagship space, vitrines and internal architectural elements guide visitors through the experience, connecting the store’s two levels through a continuous, evolving narrative.
Two Directions, One Philosophy
Courtesy of Flos.
Together, Nocturne and Maap articulate Flos’s ongoing commitment to experimentation, where light is treated not only as function, but as medium. One leans toward precision and cinematic clarity; the other toward fluidity and intuitive form. Both, however, reaffirm a shared premise: that lighting design can exist beyond utility, operating instead as a space for interpretation, emotion, and discovery.
Both installations will be on view through April 26, 2026.
Courtesy of Flos.
