- Published on
The Art of Shaping Light: Erwan Bouroullec’s FLOS Maap
- Authors
- Name
- Ang Yi Shuan
Table of Contents
With Maap, designer Erwan Bouroullec realises a long-held ambition: to create a broad, immersive surface of light. Geometry provides the starting point, yet each installation introduces an element of unpredictability, as the diffuser must be crumpled by hand, forming a microstructure that stabilises the lamp and brings it to life.
Developed over an extended period, Maap resisted conventional materials and even traditional technical drawings. Bouroullec’s longstanding fascination with ultra-thin materials guided the process, ultimately resulting in a fixture that is as much an artistic installation as it is a functional light source.
"Maap is the realization of a long-held desire to create expansive light sources that diffuse illumination across a broad surface. This results in a subtle, immersive glow that surrounds you, spreading softly and evenly." — Erwan Bouroullec
Designed to be Shaped
Rooted in a simple human gesture, Maap might equally be called Maak, as it draws from the primal human act of making. It responds to our innate inclination to create and to shape objects in response to their context.
Embracing our attraction to free forms, it evokes endless interpretations—from a topographical map to a landscape, or even an enlarged cellular structure. It is the result of making: partly uncontrolled, instinctive, and alive. When crumpled, the diffuser takes on unique, organic configurations. Each installation becomes distinct, shaped directly by the user’s hands. Lightness remained paramount throughout its design, reflecting a conscious approach to material use.
An Alchemical Wall Installation
Maap is a generously sized wall and ceiling lamp. It consists of a luminous element housing powerful LED engines and a cross-shaped support that magnetically anchors the distinctive diffusive shell.
The cover is available in three sizes (Wall 1, Wall 2, and Wall 3) depending on how many lighting units are mounted on the wall. At its maximum extension, Maap can span over 3 metres, transforming an empty, quiet wall into a sprawling, luminous field.
The Mechanics: How to Install Maap
Despite its organic appearance, the underlying engineering is rigorously precise. The surface attaches to the metal "skeleton" through large magnetic buttons known as the Dots, positioned directly over the light sources.
These magnetic elements serve a dual purpose: they stabilize the delicate shell while allowing endless reshaping and adjustment. It grants the architect, the interior designer, or the homeowner the final creative say in how the fixture physically manifests in the room.
Specify Maap in Singapore
ILLUM-TEC PTE LTD is the official project partner for FLOS in Singapore. We assist architects and designers in integrating visionary fixtures like the Maap into high-end residential and commercial spaces. From ensuring the correct driver specification for local dimming systems (including Casambi and DALI) to offering guidance on the installation of these large-scale artistic pieces, our team provides end-to-end support.
