Multiforme's largest lighting project ever
Monumental chandelier for the heart of Seoul
A work of engineering and craftsmanship, in the heart of Itaewon, that combines extreme resistance, technology and visual poetry
In 2019, Multiforme received an unusual request: design and produce the largest chandelier the company had ever made.
An impressive work (12 meters high, 6 meters in diameter, weighing almost 2,000 kg) intended to be installed outdoors, suspended above a large decorative fountain, at the center of a vast vertical space crossed daily by tourists, customers and visitors.
The context could not have been more challenging: open-air windows, strong air currents, view over the building’s floors, and a location with a high visual and environmental impact.
A chandelier that must last a hundred years
The Korean client had a single request, simple as it is demanding: “This chandelier must last a hundred years”.
Seoul is a humid metropolis, subject to monsoon winds, climate changes and heavy rainfall. Added to this was the proximity to the coast of the Yellow Sea and the constant exposure to the elements. Materials and finishes were needed to ensure high performance and total long-term reliability. From this challenge, an unprecedented project was born.
Luminous architecture on 10 levels and materials designed to defy time
The load-bearing structure is developed on 10 levels of lights, supported by a technical core in stainless steel and aluminum.
Each component was designed not only to support the monumental weight of the work, but also to resist horizontal stresses caused by wind and possible seismic events. A chandelier, but with the rigor of a work of civil engineering.
The lighting system, completely managed via KNX domotics, is composed of 100 LED lights positioned at the ends of the arms, and 60 LED lights integrated into the central structure.
All lighting fixtures are IP66 certified, specifically designed for outdoor use and in severe weather conditions.
From an aesthetic point of view, the entire chandelier is covered with stylised plant shoots, leaves and flowers wrapped around the central body and on each arm. Around 40,000 decorative elements were created, modelled and forged one by one.
The total number of welds? Nearly 100,000, hand performed by Multiforme master craftsmen.
A colossal work, which transforms a technical structure into a luminous sculpture with a strong natural character.
The metal structure was treated with cataphoresis, followed by a high-gloss black polyester coating, achieving Qualicoat Class 1 certification. This highly protective finish guarantees weather resistance and long-lasting color stability.
A chandelier designed to withstand rain, sun, humidity, and wind.
The challenge: combine engineering and beauty
The true goal of the project was to merge two souls, the technical and the artistic, into a coherent work. A chandelier enormously complex in its structure, yet harmonious, elegant, visually poetic.
The shape, inspired by a large plant architecture, creates a play of light and reflections that interacts with the building’s mirrored surfaces, multiplying in space and transforming into a one-of-a-kind visual attraction.
The design and production required six months of continuous work, punctuated by periodic audits by the client’s quality managers. Each phase, from prototyping to structural testing, was verified and certified according to the most stringent international standards.
On-site assembly: a work that comes to life, a new icon for the Korean capital
Once completed, the chandelier was shipped to Korea and installed by two teams coordinated by Multiforme technicians. In about 10 days, the entire structure took shape, accompanied by training sessions for local staff to ensure maintenance and safety.
An international collaboration that brought Italian light to the heart of Seoul.
The final phase of the installation was the most spectacular. During a bright night in Itaewon, the safety beam was removed to leave the chandelier suspended from six thin cables, designed to be almost invisible. And so the work, finally free, began to “float” above the fountain, its 160 lights endlessly reflected in the mirrored surfaces of the tower.
It was a moment that thrilled the technicians, the clients, and everyone present.
Today, the monumental chandelier has become a symbol of the company that commissioned it, an attraction for visitors and tourists, and a point of reference for the lively nightlife of Itaewon, a district famous for its restaurants, clubs, and international nightlife.
A work that combines engineering, craftsmanship, and creative vision: one of the most ambitious installations ever created by Multiforme.
