Astep Design: Italian lighting legacy since 1939 | Insmat Caldes

Astep Design is a lighting brand founded in Copenhagen in 2014 by Alessandro Sarfatti, the third generation of a family that has shaped the history of Italian lighting design. His grandfather, Gino Sarfatti, founded Arteluce in 1939 — the first company to bring design into the lighting industry — and went on to create nearly 700 luminaires during his lifetime. His father, Riccardo Sarfatti, co-founded Luceplan in 1978 alongside Sandra Severi and architect Paolo Rizzatto. Alessandro, former CEO of Luceplan, channelled this unique legacy into Astep: a project that looks forward while resting on the finest foundations of the past. The brand's name — a step, one step forward — captures its philosophy perfectly.

Astep's catalogue works along two complementary lines. The first is reissues of Italian design classics: the Model 2065 by Gino Sarfatti (c. 1950), a pendant of two saucer-shaped diffusers in opaline methacrylate — a pioneering material that Sarfatti was among the first to use in lighting — now available in a sustainable version using 100% recycled and recyclable Green Cast® PMMA. The VV Cinquanta, designed in 1951 by Vittoriano Viganò — Art Director of Arteluce at the time — is a sculptural luminaire with a posable brass reflector, available as a wall, floor and suspension light. The Model 2050 by Franco Albini and Franca Helg rounds out the historical reissues. The second line brings in contemporary designs by authors such as Alfredo Häberli (portable lamp Nox), continuing the brand's spirit of material and technological innovation.

At Insmat Caldes we are official Astep Design distributors in Barcelona with over 25 years of experience in design lighting. Our team of experts will help you find the right piece for every project, whether residential or contract. Visit our showroom in Caldes de Montbui or get in touch for personalised, no-commitment advice.