Occhio: from evolution to revolution

Munich-based company OCCHIO has been revolutionising the light in our rooms for 20 years – systematically, brightly, with future-oriented technologies towards a new culture of light. And that’s only the beginning.

By Occhio, Axel Meise, and Julia Hauch for

Occhio

January 21, 2020 | 11:00 pm CUT

Without light no shadow, without shadow no light. Fascinated by this interplay, 20 years ago Axel Meise created Occhio. The Mito largo arc luminaire not only brings light into the darkness, it’s also a real masterpiece

The elementary effect of light has been known since the first day of creation. In a constant state of evolution since then, and, as the fourth dimension of architecture, it exerts a significant influence on our living environment. With its form and position, it not only creates the atmosphere of our rooms, but above all, determines our emotions.

The extent to which this interplay of light and dark can affect our quality of life has fascinated Axel Meise since his youth. What had eluded him, however, in his long search for the perfect light, was an all-encompassing concept that offered optimum solutions to each individual and spatial requirement: ‘Wherever I looked, I found many good, individual solutions – but no systems that were consistent in both design and function. So I set to work.’

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'The extent to which the interplay of light and dark can affect our quality of life has fascinated Axel Meise since his youth'

Together with his partner Christoph Kügler, the product designer and businessman developed the multifunctional Occhio lighting system in 1999 – with sophisticated technology and consistent design in lens optics. With the concept of ‘form follows function’ as the guiding principle, their very first design for the product family, Puro, led to illumination within the industry. With this, the Occhio company was born and now not only looks back on the 20 years of success already behind it, but more importantly with open eyes and bright ideas towards the future.

Puro represented Meise’s first implementation of a modular luminaire system. It combined timelessness with functional brilliance

Puro’s successor Sento established the company as market leader in Germany and is now considered a design classic, not to be missed. Because this modular system with its double-sided light source can be placed at any desired point, it illuminates the room in a completely new way – thanks to exchangeable filters which offer different lighting effects as well as colours. This is a system which has already proven itself – but, of course, only those who are open to change remain relevant.

Nomen est omen: the characteristic lens optics provide directed light and new textures – whether in the form of Sento verticale, a rotatable LED wall luminaire with two lenses, or as Sento terra, a dimmable floor luminaire for indirect and direct light

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'Suddenly, a simple movement of the hand was enough to intuitively change the light intensity or colour, as if it were just a natural extension of the user’s sense of touch'

While the ban on incandescent lamps suggested gloomy times ahead, Occhio turned this halogen emergency into an LED virtue. The team took the development of these new electronics into its own hands, oriented its quality of light not towards the competition but rather sunlight itself, and created io, the first series with ‘touchless control’ – integrated gesture control. Suddenly, a simple movement of the hand was enough to intuitively change the light intensity or colour, as if it were just a natural extension of the user’s sense of touch. With this revolutionary control, Occhio brought light even closer to people and their senses.

With its rotating head, the io tavolo table luminaire can adjust to any situation, while the io sospeso pendant luminaire hovers above. And thanks to ‘touchless control’, both can be operated intuitively from the luminaire head

It is not only the pure, timeless design or the compelling light quality that should delight the user, but also the uncomplicated ability to design light of their own. ‘For me, the light must be individually adaptable and changeable. We use the various resources of digital technology for this. With our app-based Bluetooth control, operation via gesture and many other features, we offer the user unique added value – and the joy of use typical of Occhio,’ explains Axel Meise.

Let there be light: The days of the light switch are over. With Occhio's revolutionary development of ‘touchless control’, a simple gesture is all that is needed to switch, dim or adjust the light up and down

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'And if it floats in front of or above you, this light source really does begin to feel almost mythical'

But what is a universe without more magic moments? In 2016, with Mito, Occhio’s previous success was put firmly in the shade. The sensual ring luminaire with its characteristic cut not only opens up new dimensions in creativity, it also shines with further technical innovations. With Mito, the portfolio to date comes full circle, enabling users to find precisely the right lighting solution for any situation. And if it floats in front of or above you, this light source really does begin to feel almost mythical.

Coming full circle: the Mito series, shown here as the Mito sospeso pendant luminaire, allows precisely the right lighting atmosphere to be created, the source feeling almost mythical as it floats around and above the user

This is exactly what it is all about: a lust for life. Occhio did not simply switch on the light, it stands for ‘a new culture of light’ – a development that has finally elevated the innovative company to a lifestyle brand. In addition, the project business is increasingly becoming a focus of attention for Occhio. Mito linear, for example, opens up completely new possibilities for lighting design in the contract sector. Further concepts are already being planned, new markets in Europe are being developed as well as new Occhio stores opening in China and India.

A clear line: Mito alto, the minimalist and versatile ceiling luminaire from Occhio’s Mito linear series, opens up new lighting possibilities for the contract sector and continues the company's success story

If you follow Mads Mikkelsen and Sofia Boutella through the atmospheric staging of this new culture of light, in the current brand campaign you won’t be able to wait to see how this success story continues ...

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München, Germany