Plusminus Lighting by VIBIA | Light Forms & Fluidity Interior Design.

When architects António Falcão Costa Lopes and Filipa Fortunato curated their new townhouse hotel in Alcácer do Sal in Portugal's Alentejo region, lighting played a pivotal role in the overall concept. In addition to featuring the couple's private collection of lighting, furnishings and artworks, Casa Fortunato is a showcase for new design, recently installing the Plusminus lighting system by VIBIA. Antonio had spotted the company at a trade fair and immediately saw a purpose for VIBIA's creation by Stefan Diez in the new Casa. Modular, practical and simplistic elegance captures the design essence of Plusminus lighting system that redefines comfort illumination with the flexibility of gallery spots. 

Highlighting architectural features, tracing a stairwell or looping around artworks, providing a reading corner or throwing light across design furnishings, Plusminus are a new lighting solution that complements an interior - besides it being an attractive addition to the canvas of curated design.   

António was installing his latest 'love' as we were in the Casa just before the opening - as a collector, you can sense his enthusiasm as the first lights take up residence suspended above the drama of the Casa. "Aren't they simply beautiful?" he explains. 

The concept of Plusminus is based on versatility, where a conductive textile ribbon allows for flexibility on where you put lights, so you can be as creative as you like with your light placement rather than be tied down to specific spots. The strap can be taught or loose, adding even more choice into your design arrangement, and light diffusion runs the gauntlet from spot to sphere. It was an ideal problem-solver to utilise Plusminus in the renovation of Casa Fortunato, a building from the 1940s, as it allowed the old wood ceilings to stay untouched and keep the original structure of the interior design while making a unique lighting solution for each room. Filipa describes it succinctly, "the strap simply runs around the house ceilings, walls and floors, allowing you to mix and match different fixtures to suit your specific space and lighting needs. It's just brilliant!"

It also looks fantastic in the way that only designer pieces can. It was the invention of designer Stefan Diez, who works with his team on a multifaceted spectrum of design to create award-winning furniture, tableware and accessories. In this case, he worked with VIBIA to design the Plusminus lighting solution. A thoroughly contemporary and modern way of presenting light, the Plusminus is truly revolutionary in its power to architects and interior designers to direct light (and therefore shade) and use texture (from the strap) and structure as an integral part of a room's design. Not to mention creating unique pools of light that look fabulous.

We can see why lovers of architecture, design and style, Filipa and Antonio, who together have perhaps the best taste of everyone we know, would be onto the lighting fluidity provided by Plusminus.