Innovation Meets Tradition: The Forcola Lamp by Carlo D'Urso
- 08 Jan, 2025
- Home , BeCreative
- 0 Comments
A symbol of Venetian heritage shines brightly with the help of Creative Cables.
Forcole are deeply embedded in Venetian history. These wooden structures function as rowlocks, enabling Venetian rowers to rest their oars while using the loops and edges as secondary levers to propel their boats. Standing tall, facing forward, and perfectly attuned to their surroundings, rowers glide effortlessly through the Venetian lagoon.
It was during one such rowing session that Carlo D’Urso, a young Venetian artisan, found inspiration to reimagine the iconic shape of the forcola in entirely new ways.
While studying industrial product design at the Polytechnic University of Turin, D’Urso first discovered Creative Cables. The shop on Via Mazzini played a key role in one of his university projects. Years later, he returned, seeking a lighting solution for a project where the forcola would take center stage.
D’Urso is a member of Reborn Shapes, a collective of Venetian designers focused on projects that honor the region’s traditions, using forms and materials from artisanal production processes. For this project, he aimed to do more than simply replicate the forcola’s distinctive shape—he sought to capture the essence of Venetian rowing and the craftsmanship behind it. To bring this vision to life, he incorporated two types of production waste into the lamp’s design: excess walnut wood from carving the forcole and copper mine shavings created during the crafting of oars.
The forcola-inspired sculpture is crafted from transparent, 3D-printed PLA and was unveiled alongside the Reborn Shapes designers at Venice Design Week 2024. This annual event brings the city to life with workshops and thematic tours, allowing visitors to meet artisans and designers in their studios while experiencing Venetian craftsmanship firsthand. It offers a cultural immersion into one of the most celebrated traditions of Made in Italy.
At VDW2024, international designers found inspiration in the reflections of water and the legacy of Venetian glassmaking. To complete the lamp, the Plumen 002 20650 bulb was selected—an award-winning design that took home the ELLE Decoration British Design Award in 2014. Its water-drop-inspired shape perfectly complements the forcola lamp.
“It’s so beautiful, it could be a sculpture,” remarked a friend of D’Urso during a boat trip, admiring a newly commissioned forcola. Taking this sentiment to heart, D’Urso collaborated with Creative Cables to create a piece that seamlessly merges local heritage with a commitment to sustainability.
You must be logged in to post comments
0 Comments