Natural light: Bover

Biophilic design is a powerful tool for enhancing wellbeing in space by ‘returning’ us closer to the natural habitats from where we have evolved. However, when it comes to bringing natural forms into interior space, Spanish lighting brand Bover has always been ‘forward’ thinking. While staying true to the biophilic values of evoking daylight, natural materials and organic shapes, Bover’s indoor and outdoor lights are at the forefront of lighting innovation.

Bover’s latest lighting collections for 2021 prove how biophilic design can work alongside the latest technological developments to form durable, reliable and versatile lighting. Whether it is innovating weaving techniques, researching new natural materials or combining modern materials with organic shapes, Bover always finds a balance between wellbeing and modern-day requirements.

For Joana Bover, who founded the brand in 1996, this is what makes it unique: ‘Quality is a fundamental part of a good design, and for us, combining artisan methods of production with advanced technologies is part of that. We are particularly proud to continue working manually because we value the artistry and pay homage to the memory of tradition,’ she says.

This year, two Bover collections – the organic and artisanal Tanit and Mediterrània – have been updated with design enhancements to improve their versatility. Now available in two pendant sizes, the delicately hand-woven Tanit shade is made with thin waxed cotton cord, which forms a horizontal light sieve. On the other hand, new updates to the Mediterrània collection bring it outdoors for the first time. Its synthetic fibres have been woven with a new technique, which helps to enhance the organic rippling of its shade.

The new Valentina collection combines an organic shape and natural colour palette with the durable materials of aluminium and iron. The smooth head draws a wavy shape on its perimeter, clearly contrasting with the inside of the lamp, which evokes the gentle oscillations that marine currents form on the Mediterranean coast. The Valentina is available in four matte colours; olive grey, light grey, terracotta and black, each with a soft white coloured interior, except in the case of the black lamp, which has a copper interior.

For Bover, technological innovation does not mean a departure from its trademark warmth and tactility: ‘The lighting sector has undergone one of the greatest evolutions in recent years, and we still haven’t reached our limit, but most people do not want to give up the essence of warm and natural light. I don't need Alexa to turn on my lights, but I do need my lights to make me feel at home and adapt to my mood. Not all luminaires are capable of making us feel good,- says Bover.

This ‘feel-good’ approach to lighting is consistent across all of Bover’s collections, achieved through the goal of echoing the properties of natural light. Setting a subtle mood for interior space is the new Skybell Plus collection. One of Bover’s most delicate lamps, it features a slim, elegant pendant with a long shade. This collection could be suitable for bedroom lighting, intimate spaces such as the home, or atmospheric restaurants and bars.

Bover is interested in how design can aid wellbeing in new ways. The new Platet collection seeks to remind people of the history of lighting, inviting them to think back to when the idea of an electric light was a beacon of the future. The Platet lamp is inspired by old industrial factory lighting in La Escala, Spain. It is essential – a simple wall-fixed body holds a disk that protects a bulb – but offers warmth in its nostalgia.

After all, perhaps what is most innovative today, is valuing wellbeing. ‘We need a softer and warmer approach to space and design for wellbeing,’ says Bover. ‘We come from a time where less is more, and currently what we all need is to surround ourselves with heat and colour; to escape from rigidity and enter friendly spaces.’

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