Contardi Outdoor Lighting

Who says that outdoor decorative lighting is just for show? Not Contardi. The Italian lighting company is dedicated to creating outdoor products that are at once aesthetically pleasing and brilliantly illuminating.

Over the years, Contardi has built a reputation for its skillful, sartorial approach to outdoor lighting, its eclectic style, the variety of materials used, the elegance of its finishes, and its cutting-edge LED technology. Contardi products are proudly 100-percent made in Italy and feature instantly recognizable yet timeless designs that are always contemporary… regardless of passing trends.

Highly client-focused, Contardi has developed its outdoor lighting business through two main areas: the Home Division, represented by the suspension lamps, wall lamps, floor lamps, lanterns, table lamps, and other outdoor lighting products (primarily used for residential projects); and the Contract Division, which specializes in bespoke products aimed at the contract market, particularly the leisure and hospitality industries. Through these distinct yet complementary sectors, Contardi has become synonymous with service, quality, and flexibility, becoming a reference point for architects, interior decorators, landscape designers and lighting consultants searching for original, decorative, and functional outdoor lighting.

History

Contardi is a young company with a significant history. The first Contardi branded product dates back to 2006. But before then, Contardi had a 30-year record of successful collaborations, providing lighting expertise to some of the most iconic companies on the Italian design scene. It all started with the creative genius of Michele Carcano, who worked for Stilnovo – one of the first companies to build a reputation as a lighting designer. Today, Michele’s sons Achille and Paola Carcano have taken the reins of the company, which is headquartered in Brianza district of Italy’s Lombardy region, considered the “beating heart” of Made-in-Italy manufacturing.

Materials

Contardi has earned the moniker of “Couturier of Contemporary Lighting” for its fashionable and skilled use of a wide range of materials. Metal is a common component of Contardi outdoor products, and many of its raw materials are sourced from Italian steel mills, where regulatory compliance ensures they are free of solvents or heavy metals. Fabric is also a common material used by Contardi Lighting… particularly for its lampshades. These fabrics are made from non-allergenic and non-toxic materials, and many of them are also waterproof and fireproof.

Contardi prides itself on its continuous evolution; its 2021 collection includes lighting produced with materials that have 100-percent organic origins, including cellulose and, incredibly, coffee grounds. In November 2020, Contardi partnered with esteemed Dutch designer Annet van Egmond to become the sole distributor of an outdoor lighting design called “Miss Nightingale,” a fun, candle-shaped, and totally portable solar-powered table lamp made of 100-percent recycled plastic.

Contardi Lighting is increasingly committed to sustainable business practices. For instance, it now uses “Comi Eco” marked boxes, which certifies they are made from recycled and natural materials. The company also has extensively removed single-use plastic from its production chain.

Designers

Under the art direction of San Marino-born Massimiliano Raggi – who designed several of Contardi’s outdoor lighting collections, including Babu, Calybabu, Cube, and Freedom – Contardi has teamed up with international designers who are able to interpret and anticipate outdoor lighting trends in the residential and hospitality sectors. Contardi also taps into the creative minds of its in-house research and development department, All Together, where technicians and designers create lighting products that are both decorative and functional. Other outdoor lighting design collaborators include Alessandro Poli and Francesca De Giorgi of Italian design studio Servomuto (Calypso Collection) and French designer Tristan Auer (Coco and the battery-powered Muse lanterns).

Projects

Hotels, restaurants, and yachts all over the world have become stages where Contardi outdoor lighting products perform perfectly within their surroundings. Notable projects include the Hôtel Lutetia in Paris; Park Hyatt Washington, D.C.; Mandarin Oriental, Miami; Palazzo Manfredi Hotel in Rome; Severin’s Alpine Retreat in Lech, Austria; Novikov Restaurant in Downtown Miami; and Hotel Excelsior in Pesaro, Italy.

“When we talk about an outdoor product by Contardi, we are talking about an IP65-rated product and marine-grade finish, and therefore a real outdoor item tested to withstand harsh sailing conditions.”