The lighting brand Wästberg from Sweden creates high-quality Scandinavian design lamps, paying attention not only to functionality and technology, but also to their emotional impact.
The company was founded in 2008 by Magnus Wästberg, who had previously gained experience in lighting design in his father's company, and eventually resolved to create lamps according to his own personal philosophy. In his view, the prevailing lighting design lacked the human factor, common lamps were cool and their light unpleasant. He formulated his ideas in the manifesto "Lamps for Neanderthal Men", which portrays fire as the archetype of all artificial light. For Wästberg, fire was the first source of light that people could control, thus ataking a central place in their everyday life. Fire meant light, but also warmth, security and community. According to Wästberg, modern light sources should cover these basic human needs as well.
The design of the Wästberg luminaires is deliberately minimalist, but never sober. Well-proportioned shapes, beautiful colours and consciously selected, high-quality materials with pleasant surfaces make the lamps an experience beyond their lighting effect. Technological advances are never embraced for their own sake, but only when they mean real improvements. Wästberg is convinced that not all criteria for good lighting can be measured objectively. Emotional factors, aesthetics and comfort are harder to define but just as important.
Wästberg works with Swedish and international designers to create modern lights with a strong character and sophisticated technology. The range is comparatively small, but is made to fulfill every lighting task, from general illumination to task lighting and decorative accents. The lights are aesthetically and technologically up to date, with clear shapes that can be combined in many ways and with modern LEDs as the preferred light source.
For many lamps, Wästberg now uses high-quality full-spectrum LEDs, whose light comes close to that of the sun, able to display all colour nuances precisely and naturally thanks to their excellent colour rendering. Such light creates an inviting and cozy atmosphere in living areas, supports focussed office work and makes food appear appetizing in the gastronomic sector.
Thanks to their minimalist design, all Wästberg lamps can be easily combined with each other. This enables well-thought-out lighting concepts that cover all types of light and let them complement each other perfectly.
Wästberg adhers to the three principles of lighting design formulated by architect Richard Kelly in 1952. According to his ideas, a good lighting concept consists of the interaction of three types of lighting. Every room, time of day and different activities call for a different balance between these three categories. First and foremost is the functional light ("focal glow"), which draws attention, structures the room and enables clear vision in selected areas. The second type has a supportive role, a basic lighting that illuminates the room evenly and without shadows ("ambient luminescence"). The third type of lighting is decorative bright accents ("play of brilliants"), which shape the atmosphere of a room and appeal to the senses.
In order to fulfill these essential tasks in the best possible way, lamps by Wästberg use well-thought-out designs and high-quality technology. For many lamps, dimmability and the possibility of adjusting the direction of the light ensure great flexibility and open up new areas of application.
Wästberg's lamps have already received many design awards, including several Good Design Awards, Red Dot Awards, the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Wallpaper Design Award and the Swedish Design Award.