April 29, 2025 — Landscape Forms, a leading North American manufacturer of high-design site furniture, structure and lighting, has introduced Louis, a linear urban catenary created by Urbidermis, based in Barcelona, Spain. Inspired by the philosophy of architect Louis Kahn, Louis merges clean, modernist geometries with a versatile and sustainable lighting solution tailored for urban environments.
Louis linear urban catenary merges clean, modernist geometries with a versatile and sustainable lighting solution tailored for urban environments. Image courtesy of Landscape Forms
Jordi Muñoz, director of Design at Urbidermis, stated:
Louis reflects our deep commitment to designing lighting solutions that seamlessly integrate into the urban landscape while providing both aesthetic and functional value. With Louis, we sought to create an unobtrusive yet expressive luminaire — one that enhances public spaces while remaining true to our design ethos of adaptability, sustainability and respect for the built environment.
Louis is distinguished by its gently arched aluminum housing, a design choice that softens its rectilinear form while subtly concealing the catenary attachment points. This thoughtful detail reinforces Louis’s connection to the elemental geometries that define modernist design. Suspended over pathways, plazas, and pedestrian corridors, Louis provides precise illumination while contributing to the visual identity and emotional atmosphere of urban space.
Jordan Agustin, president of Lighting at Landscape Forms, explained:
With Louis, we saw an opportunity to elevate urban lighting — both in form and function. The luminaire’s linear design and catenary suspension allow it to define space without intrusion, offering a guiding presence while preserving the openness of the environment.
Designed to enhance “slow-velocity spaces” such as plazas, parks, and recreational areas, Louis establishes unobstructed planes of illumination that encourage social interaction and public engagement. Its linear profile is particularly effective when installed in sequence, providing rhythmic wayfinding guidance along pedestrian thoroughfares and city streets.
Muñoz from Urbidermis added:
Louis took shape with a clear purpose in mind—to bring light while gently weaving itself into the fabric of the landscape. Louis’s refined, minimal aesthetic is matched by its performance, delivering high-quality, full-cutoff illumination that enhances public space while respecting the natural rhythms of the urban nightscape.
Louis aligns on two foundational design principles important to Urbidermis, nature and technology. Ensuring technology is integrated to enhance the quality of life, while respecting the environment and making a positive impact, is one part of this principle. Collaborating in the design of outdoor space that preserves core green infrastructure, while adapting urban elements to this new environment, is another. The design of Louis prioritizes both efficiency and environmental responsibility, reflecting the dedication of Landscape Forms and Urbidermis in the creation of sustainable, high-performance lighting solutions.
Additional specifications and images of Louis are available at Landscape Forms.
