Axia: the delicate balance between light, form and technology
Axia expands Lodes’ aesthetic vocabulary with a standalone suspension lamp of striking presence, in which decorative expression, light and technology merge in a subtle, continuous gesture: a lamp that reminds us that every form of clarity always begins with a principle of balance. Even before being an object, Axia is an idea: a small system of order and freedom in which rigour meets lightness, and technology becomes narrative. A lamp capable of illuminating a space through its very presence, even when switched off. Behind the project lie the visions of Vittorio Venezia and Carolina Martinelli, who reinterpret the archetype of the chandelier through a contemporary sensibility, transforming it into an object in which light, form and technology find a new balance.
“With Axia, we wanted to engage with that tradition, asking ourselves what our voice could bring today, – explain Vittorio Venezia and Carolina Martinelli – “We believe the answer lies in an essential gesture: removing the wire. When light is no longer bound to a cable but flows within the structure itself, the lamp changes its nature. This gave rise to an electrified and flexible system in which energy travels through the body like invisible sap.”
In ancient Greek, “axia” means value, but also axis that supports, unites and gives meaning. The central axis of the lamp is the conductor that houses the positive and negative poles – the element that binds material and light, ensuring circuit continuity and overall stability. From this intuition, everything develops, evolves and takes shape: technology becomes invisible, function transforms into a decorative gesture, and becomes an integral part of the form. Lodes has translated the project into a continuous design in which the central axis tapers to evoke balance and lightness. From here, the arms branch out like elements connecting, giving life to a lighting system that elevates both form and gesture. The high, diffused light output enhances the perception of a light that embraces space with natural elegance.
Axia is offered in a single size – approximately 80 cm – and in two metallic finishes that define its character: Glossy Bronze, which enhances the warm, decorative quality of the light, and Black Chrome, which emphasises its contemporary spirit. The PVD finish is not only aesthetic but also functional: the coating process modifies the stainless-steel surface itself, allowing electrical polarity to be transmitted without the use of visible cables, preserving the visual purity of the design. The colour emerges from the material – it is not applied – allowing the metal to breathe and vibrate, as if reflecting its own magnetic field. Designed for spacious residential environments – such as living and dining rooms, where it becomes a visual focal point in the centre of the room or above a table – Axia also finds its place in contract and hospitality settings, from lobbies to lounge areas, where it furnishes with a presence that is both bold and discreet, never intrusive. Used alone or in combinations of two or more elements, it creates evocative, contemporary atmospheres, diffusing a soft and comfortable light.
Thanks to its construction logic, Axia can be shipped in compact packaging, reducing environmental impact and simplifying distribution. When assembled, it comes to life in the hands of those who build it, creating a direct connection with light. And perhaps this is its true value: a lamp that, while sophisticated and technological, remains profoundly human. Axia thus introduces a new luminous gesture to the Lodes catalogue, redefining the idea of decorative expression, expanding the brand’s language and confirming its commitment to aesthetic, formal and design research.
“Axia represents an important step for us in the ongoing pursuit of balance between aesthetics, technology and light quality”, concludes Massimiliano Tosetto, Lodes Managing Director. “It is a project that clearly expresses the direction we are taking: creating objects capable of speaking a contemporary and recognisable language. In Axia, this vision takes shape in a pure gesture that conceals technical complexity to deliver an immediate and highly decorative lighting experience.”
