SAFIR — chandeliers with cobalt hearts
The SAFIR collection was born from a fascination with cobalt – a colour that is intense, deep and full of energy. This expressive and saturated shade has long drawn the attention of Maria Rypuła, designer and co-founder of Gie El, becoming the starting point for an expressive collection of cobalt chandeliers in which colour does not accompany light – it leads it.
From a single model to a cobalt total look
The inspiration behind SAFIR was the MEDUSE cobalt lamp – Gie El’s flagship glass pendant in a cobalt hue, which for years existed quietly within the brand’s portfolio. Maria saw its potential and refused to stop at a single lampshade. Cobalt became a material to explore – she began creating new elements in the same tone: smaller shades, fragments of fractured glass, and even ceiling canopies and braided cables in matching colour. Every detail was designed to speak the same language. This was how the idea of a total look was born – monochromatic, yet rich in nuance and full of energy.
Light that never loses its warmth
One of the greatest design challenges was preserving the warm tone of the light despite the use of cool-coloured glass. Cobalt naturally gives light passing through it a bluish, cold hue. The Gie El design team sought a solution that would unite the intensity of colour with the functionality of lighting. They eventually developed special vertical sleeves for the bulbs, directing the light only downwards and preventing it from passing through the sides of the shade. As a result, the light retains its natural warmth, spreading gentle reflections throughout the space and subtly illuminating the lower rim that defines the MEDUSE form.