Lighting
Cranbrook Torchiere Kingswood Girls Middle School
24”d x 84”h x 24”d -
Mankato Limestone, Polished Nickel, Opal Glass Shade, LED illuminated
Cranbrook Torchiere Kingswood Girls Middle School
The Cranbrook Torchiere is located in the entry of the new Kingswood Girls Middle School designed by Lake|Flato architects. Commissioned by the Cranbrook institution, the design of the luminaire represents the ongoing collaborations between artists, architects and the Cranbrook community since its inception in the 1920’s.
Nosanchuk worked with LakeFlato Architects and Cranbrook to develop a design that related to the new building while speaking to the finite grillwork and stained glass details of the original Kingswood School building designed by the Saarinen family. Surrounded by a fretwork of vertical and horizontal ribs of polished nickel, the fixture’s cylindrical opal glass shade is illuminated by an LED source. The lamp as the metal parts were water jet cut, plated and assembled like a puzzle in Toronto by a third generation light maker while separately the solid blocks of Mankato limestone, produced in Minnesota were cut angles with special carving tools to receive the torcheire’s metal armature.
Combined with the Art Academy, the Cranbrook campus has a tremendous history of architecture, art and design from founding architects Eliel and his son Eero, to Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia, Charles and Ray Eames, Jack Larsen, Tod Williams and Daniel Libeskind. "It is a fantastic honor to be part of the history of this place," said Nosanchuk who credits Cranbrook with his decision to pursue his Master in Architecture.