The fixture emits diffuse and symmetrical light. The majority of the light is directed downwards, and the opal acrylic shades provide comfortable room lighting. The red hue of the top reflector helps giving the light a warmer glow.
PH 80 is a member of the three-shade family which numbers 30 lights today, including three for outdoor use. Thus PH did not just design a light, but an entire system – around a thousand different models have been produced over the years. This wide selection consisted of table, floor and wall lamps, as well as a number of different chandeliers, which were very popular in the 30s for lighting private homes from high ceilings. There were countless combination options. The lights were available in different colours, as well as a range of sizes. The first shades were made of metal with a painted undersurface, such as white, gold or silver – depending on whether diffuse, warm or cold light was desired. Glass was later introduced for the three-shade system. In addition to the downward-directed light, glass lamps illuminated the room. PH was the first person to pursue a scientific approach to light and use the logarithmic spiral as a basis. By using a design based on the logarithmic spiral he achieved even distribution of light over the entire curve of the shade. This even light distribution, together with the diffuse reflection through the glass, made it possible to control glare and shadow. Each shade reduces the amount of light equally, due to their distance from the light source. The PH light model numbers refer to the shade size. Each top shade had a corresponding set of middle and lower shades. In the ‘pure’ models, such as the 2/2, the top shade has a size of about 20 cm, with corresponding lower shades. PH 80 is based on the same three-shade design centred on the logarithmic spiral. The material is opal acrylic, and the top shade is red to provide warm and atmospheric lighting. The light model number does not refer to the top shade diameter as is normally the case for three-shade models. The light was created in 1974 after PH’s death to mark 80 years since his birth – hence the name PH 80.
1
