PizzaKobra
Luminaire

red dot: best of the best
red dot award: product design 2008

The snake in the pizza box – form for lighting of the future
Similar to the evolution of species, the evolution of forms follows a constant flow: forms react to the requirements of their environment and their shape never remains static over long periods of time. The PizzaKobra luminaire has adapted this principle of constant change, transforming in shape so that it appears to be alive. The body of this luminaire consists of a reflective chrome-plated spiral made of stainless steel and aluminium. Inside is concealed flexible high-tech hinges making the PizzaKobra luminaire, as its namesake the cobra implies, highly adaptable; it curls up and unrolls, it rises and transforms from a table lamp to a floor lamp. When lying flat on a table or floor it looks like a “harmless” spiral, fitting perfectly into the pizza box in which it was delivered. With PizzaKobra the designer Ron Arad has created a luminaire that makes its presence felt due to its visual impact. Its sculptural, organic appearance is further emphasised by the fact that one cannot at first detect any visible switches. When turned off, only a transparent cable suggests that this is a luminaire. The stand-by sensor on the head of the luminaire emits an intense ruby-red light, like the watchful eye of the cobra. This sensor seems to be waiting for the simple touch of a finger to switch on the light. The PizzaKobra is equipped with contemporary lighting technology that allows for selective lighting: featuring six high-performance cool white LEDs of one watt each, the light-emitting head can be directed independently of the lamp body to emit light efficiently over a surface. With the strong visual impression of its organic design this luminaire is a link to a creative language of form in the future.