21 March 2026  With the beginning of spring, gardens, flowers and outdoor life return as visible themes in Vienna. As temperatures rise, balconies, terraces and public spaces are once again shaped by greenery and light, reflecting a seasonal shift that also influences design and lifestyle industries. Tradition Meets Contemporary DesignThe Viennese glass manufacturer J. & L. Lobmeyr, founded in 1823, presents its latest campaign for the portable lighting series "Ground Control". Known for historic works such as the chandeliers of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, Lobmeyr continues to connect craftsmanship with contemporary design.Recent projects such as "Airport 22" and "Dark Knight" highlight the company's ongoing engagement with architectural and cultural contexts, from large-scale lighting installations to collaborations that reinterpret historical forms in modern environments. These initiatives reflect Lobmeyr's international orientation and its dialogue between heritage and innovation. Ground Control: Light for Outdoor LivingThe Ground Control series consists of five portable, cordless table and floor lamps inspired by constellations. Designed in collaboration with the international design duo Boaz Cohen and Sayaka Yamamoto of BCXSY, the objects combine hand-cut crystal with brushed brass or nickel finishes.The designers, who have worked with Lobmeyr since 2014, are known for merging traditional craftsmanship with conceptual storytelling. Their works are included in museum collections such as the Victoria & Albert Museum and Cooper Hewitt. Ground Control reflects this approach: each lamp functions as a small "planetary system", directing light downward to avoid glare while creating subtle reflections in its surroundings. The series is a direct homage to the famous 1966 Metropolitan Opera chandeliers, incorporating their design elements inspired by science fiction and the space age. Technically, the lamps are battery-powered, rechargeable and offer multiple dimming levels, allowing use in flexible outdoor settings—from garden paths to dining tables. The series debuted internationally during Milan Design Week last year, underlining its positioning within a global design context. Floral Staging in ViennaThe campaign imagery was produced in collaboration with Zweigstelle, a Vienna-based floral studio led by Andreas Bamesberger. The studio is known for its contemporary floral concepts, particularly for hotels, events and editorial settings, where botanical arrangements are treated as part of spatial design.The photographs were taken by Florentina Olareanu, a commercial and portrait photographer whose work combines documentary sensitivity with staged precision. Originally from Transylvania and now based in Vienna, Olareanu has developed an international practice through her studio Golden Hour Pictures. Her images for the campaign place the lamps within dense, colorful floral compositions, emphasizing seasonal change and the interplay between natural and artificial light. Vienna as a Hub for Creative CollaborationThe collaboration between Lobmeyr, BCXSY, Zweigstelle and Olareanu illustrates how Vienna-based companies operate within an international network of designers, creatives and clients. While rooted in local craftsmanship and urban culture, these partnerships extend across disciplines and borders.Beyond this specific project, Vienna's creative scene is characterized by close collaboration between design studios, artisans, photographers and concept-driven businesses. Long-established manufacturers frequently work with international designers, while local studios contribute expertise in staging, material knowledge and spatial concepts. This interconnected structure allows projects to move fluidly between craft, design and visual communication, reinforcing Vienna's role as a production site as well as a platform for contemporary design exchange. Image: A portable crystal table lamp from Lobmeyr's 'Ground Control' series is placed among colorful spring flowers in the setting of the Viennese floral studio Zweigstelle. The designers of the lamp series, Boaz Cohen and Sayaka Yamamoto of BCXSY, took Lobmeyr's Met chandeliers as their starting point and transformed it into something entirely new. Rooted in Space Age aesthetics, the collection bridges heritage craftsmanship with a vision of the future. Photographer: © Florentina Olareanu |