The fifth edition of Madrid Design Festival is underway in the Spanish capital and you will find LZF taking part in several events. 

In answer to the question ‘how big can a lamp be?’, LZF will present luminaires from its Life-Size collection at two installations during Madrid Design Festival: from 16–19 February at La Institución Libre de Enseñanza, and from 20th February at Only You Hotel Atocha.

Madrid Design Festival

LZF’s dreamlike collection of larger-than-life lamps encapsulates a dedication to traditional artisanship, and to design that is imbued with a sense of whimsy and humour. Visitors to Madrid Design Festival will have an opportunity to meet Smelly Fant, Walking Fish, and Koi. These beautiful lamps are built with a traditional craft technique used by Fallas artisans, known as vareta. Both Smelly Fant and Walking Fish were created by Isidro Ferrer, a passionate illustrator and designer, and LZF Lab (directed by LZF’s Creative Director Mariví Calvo). Koi was created by Inocuo The Sign, a communication studio based in Barcelona, and Mariví Calvo.

Madrid Design Festival, Koi

Koi created by Inocuo The Sign and Mariví Calvo.

LZF’s life-size lamps are especially suited to public spaces and venues: a hotel lobby, hospital reception, museum, restaurant, and more. Their inclusion in an installation at Institución Libre de Enseñanza (the Free Teaching Institution) is particularly special. The Institution was founded in 1876 by a group of academics who were defending academic freedom (against religious, political, and moral dogmas). Between 2004 and 2014, architects Cristina Díaz Moreno and Efrén García Grinda (of studio amid.cero9) worked to rehabilitate and regenerate the Institution’s historic building (that was falling into disrepair). They recreated the spatial organisation of the original site, designing an inner garden surrounded by smaller pavilions. This modern architectural space makes an ideal venue for LZF’s life-size sculptures, whose magnificent forms will add a special dreamlike quality.

Madrid Design Festival, Smelly Fant

Smelly Fant created by Isidro Ferrer and LZF Lab.

In addition to the life-size installation, the Institución Libre de Enseñanza will host ‘Atlas: Design Culture in Spain’. This series of round-table talks, organised by Spain’s Ministry of Culture and Sports, is directed by Marisa Santamaría. Mariví Calvo, LZF’s co-founder and Creative Director, will be a participant.

Madrid Design Festival, Walking Fish

Walking Fish created by Isidro Ferrer and LZF Lab.

Madrid Design Festival takes place until 31st March 2022.

Venue details:

Institución Libre de Enseñanza

Paseo General Martínez Campos, 14, 28010 Madrid.

Only You Hotel Atocha

P.º de la Infanta Isabel, 13, 28014 Madrid.