A playful square led downlighter with multiple awards winners gives diversity and perspective. This cubical charm create ambiance, express light, redirect attention, and play with shapes. But as much as we love designing the unconventional and talking about Qbini, it’s not about the luminaire. It’s about how it naturally and intelligently lights a space.
Diversity is all around us. No two people who wander this earth are exactly the same. We all have different talents and dreams, and most importantly: our own path to follow. At Modular Lighting Instruments, we like to take this individuality to the next level. We believe in difference. Different creative minds behind the scenes who combine their magic to create out-of-the-box luminaires, and different customers, with different spaces to design and different needs and desires. The best example of our quest for individual expression might be our Qbini square led spot light. Its one-of-a-kind design allows every architect or consumer to create fresh iterations through new combinations of frames, shapes, colors and accessories. But why not just take it one step further?
Behind the ceiling with square recessed lighting
At just 44mm x 44mm, Qbini is the smallest miniature square recessed spot in the Modular family. But behind the scenes — or in this case, behind the ceiling — a lot of big thinking went into creating the world’s first plug-and-play, no screws required recessed spot. Modular engineer Lukas Weyhaeghe tells us how he came to design the groundbreaking functionality behind Qbini’s perfect cube form.
Qbini: architectural square lighting with a signature
As a designer, Florent seeks the purest, most unalloyed distillation of an object: “When I create something, I want to avoid complexity. Every new aspect that I add to a design is carefully calculated to enhance its functionality. I strive to express the essential essence of an object that speaks to each of us. Qbini is the result of these goals in action.”
Different by design
Weyhaeghe’s background may be atypical, but it fits very well with the Modular philosophy. “We are all very different — but difference is a big part of our culture. As a company we really believe in following our own path, being daring, even a bit ‘crazy’… but never just for the sake of it. It’s always to add value and create newness."
Qbini is the perfect case in point. Every element of the award-winning luminaire — apart from the LED bulb — was custom created from scratch. “Nothing is standard. Even the reflector. It truly is a unique product, from the way it is made, to how it installs, to the kind of light experience it delivers."
Inspired construction
So how was Qbini made? “On the surface, it’s very, very simple. The installation system is made of just three parts.” But, as Weyhaeghe explains, getting there was a little more complex. Each of those parts has been designed, refined, tested and perfected — from the right heat-withstanding materials to the ultimate streamlined shape. And that’s only after the concept was decided.
The concept for Qbini’s system emerged through the power of ‘what if’. “The very small size of the light came with a lot of technical consequences,” says Weyhaeghe. But instead of seeing them as challenges, he saw them as opportunities to do things differently. “What if we could click without having to screw? Is it possible? Why not?!” With this method Weyhaege also found ingenious ways to pack a whopping 400 lm in each tiny luminaire, and ensure it offered exceptional colour rendering. Perfection reached by trying, failing, pushing further and playing with possibilities.
Playful by nature
Just as the design of Qbini is inspired by the shape-sorting boxes we played with as children, so too were the engineering principles influenced by the simplicity of children’s toys. “Children’s toys are so simple and durable, they work so easily that you don’t even notice or think about how they were made. That was our aim for Qbini. We wanted to take all the responsibility of thinking and figuring out on our side, so our customers could just push it in. Qbini is that simple, because its component are that technical."
Little wonder then, that the patented installation system is indeed ‘child’s play’. It’s literally as easy as one, two, three. Push Qbini once to install it in the first position. Push it again to recess deeper. Push it a third time to remove it.
It all just clicks
“We not only designed Qbini to be easy to install in terms of no screws, no tools and no complicated wiring. We designed it to be monkey-proof. You don’t need to angle it this way or that. It fits in exactly right as you push it in. It’s impossible to insert Qbini wrongly. And you know it’s in position, because there is an audible click at each press, to reassure you that you are doing things right."
The whole beauty of Qbini is that indeed there is no ‘wrong way’. As a modular system it’s designed to be put together in any combination that takes your fancy — and is just as easy to change when you change your mind. Whether using multiple frames in contrasting colours to create inspired patterns on your ceiling, or choosing a discreet adjustable cube spot, anything is possible with Qbini.
Endless opportunities
The possibilities are quite literally endless. Because it’s a modular system, Qbini will keep on growing — with new additions and accessories being added each year. Already there’s a new gold unit and frame to bling up the creativity of your colour combinations, as well as integrated warm dim technology so you can explore new lighting dimensions with an intimate soft glow to create magical spaces. And Qbini’s not stopping there...
“It’s part of Qbini’s DNA to always stay cutting edge, though for 2018, we’ve actually cut off all the edges to create our new Qbini trimless. We’re very excited about this new recessed square frame, because it literally removes the borders to your creativity. Qbini trimless clicks in flush to the ceiling, with no visible edges, so you can link an almost limitless number of lamps at 90° or 180°.
Fitting with all existing Qbini lamps and as modular, flexible and creative as the original, Qbini trimless makes for a lighting family of unbounded potential. The ceiling’s your only limit!
square Blind Cover shakes things up in your ceiling
Sometimes, you just know that there’s something missing. With Qbini we’ve created a range of spots that answer to an endless amount of interior design questions. But still, there was an extra possibility to introduce even more diversity in the Qbini family. That possibility turned out to be the Blind Cover. It’s a plain cover, available in three colours (black, white or gold) that fits seamlessly in the Qbini fittings, whether it’s trim less or not, and both in a recessed or deep recessed position.
Cover it up
In the end of course, it’s simply a cover. But don’t be mistaken! It might not seem like much of a novelty, but it’s just as flexible as its Qbini brothers, which means that we’ve increased the already infinite number of possible design options. It could simply be an aesthetic choice to integrate the covers into the lighting plan of your space. The covers allow designers to play around with patterns and expression, without automatically using to much light. Or it might turn out to be the practical solution you’ve been looking for all along, when the luminaire or desired gear of your choice doesn’t match the hole or as an actual cover to integrate less visually pleasing sensors and signalization of e.g. emergency batteries. Whatever your intentions might be; the Blind Cover has just upgraded the entire Qbini range.
One of your favourite playful downlighter and multiple awards winner is back for more diversity and perspective. As recent recipient of the Reddot Award 2019 and Good Design 2018, Qbini’s cubical charm surprises with new possibilities once again. Create ambiance, express light, redirect attention, and play with shapes. But as much as we love designing the unconventional and talking about Qbini, it’s not about the luminaire. It’s about how it naturally and intelligently lights a space. How it can open new perspectives on particular objects, corners, areas, that would otherwise go unnoticed.Qbini manages to do it all quietly, looking quite pleasing all the while.
Qbini Asy, for a bit of an angle
If you’re looking to insert a bit of drama to the scene, the new Asy should be at the top of your list. Tilted at a 30º degree angle, and possible to position in any direction, Qbini Asy’s light will create attention. Pointed on a wall, it will mystically illuminate a special piece of art with a soft, uniform brightness. Place two facing each other, or back to back, and intricate geometrical shapes suddenly come to life on the ceiling, suggesting a connection with surrounding shapes.
Qbini General, for a shot of opaque
You probably have wished for this already. And if you haven’t, you’re in for a fun surprise. Our little spot has turned general. A homogenous splash of ambient light, Qbini General keeps its looks while creating a very diverse effect. Alone in a frame, it’s like a small version of a –almost secret– skylight. As part of Qbini’s endless list of creative combinations, Qbini General is a refreshing pool of diffused light among warm, charming spots. Even rated safe for damp and wet spaces, our family member can adorn ceilings, decorate a misty, seductive atmosphere, and still give light! A lot to ask of a small cube luminaire. But no task is too big.
Naturally, the new Qbini members click in perfectly, in the two familiar different positions –flush with ceiling or deep-recessed– in all adjustable Qbini square frames. Immerse yourself in creating new light perspectives for your next project!
There is a lot you can do with Qbini. Download the lookbook to get some inspiration or get in touch with our lighting experts to include Qbini in your lighting design.
