Increasingly, it seems, the days of the over-bright LED downlight are numbered. Instead, there’s a distinct shift to softer lighting, allowing you to create different kinds of ambience in different parts of the house. Cue the Port pendant, developed by Città product designers David Moreland and Haydn Nixon. “The idea behind the Port pendant was to create a non-directional shade with soft, relatable lines,” says Moreland.

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The light’s design was inspired by the graceful contours of a port bottle, with softly rounded shoulders and a clean line. “We wanted to create a pendant with an organic yet measured form,” he says. “The seamless, one-piece glass shade is designed to create a uniform light source while subtly concealing the lamp holder.”

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While many modern lights include a built-in LED, Città made a deliberate decision here to include a lamp-holder instead. This allows the user to select a bulb that suits their taste and application – and the design changes as a result. Choose a cooler bulb and the glass shade will feel whiter; choose a warmer bulb to create a gentle glow. (For this reason, Città also suggests connecting the pendant to a dimmable light switch.) As a result, it’s equally at home hung low over a dining table as it is grouped over a kitchen bench.

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That flexibility drives the design. The mouth-blown glass shade is made from one piece, flowing inwards to discreetly house the power supply and light fitting. The light comes in two sizes: the large fits an E27 bulb and the small takes an E14. “Its proportions are guided by the dimensions of a standard bulb,” says Moreland, “resulting in a calm, considered extension of the light source itself.”

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While the glass shade comes in one colour – white – there is a choice of tonal white cables and ceiling rose, or black for contrast. The lamp also comes with two adjustable cables to ensure a perfectly level finish. This means it should sit perfectly straight, giving the pendant a clean yet slightly asymmetrical aesthetic. Looks good to us.

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Port pendant by Città

cittadesign.com

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