Flos
Founded in 1962, Flos has produced some of the most recognized lighting designs of the past sixty years, from the Arco floor lamp to the IC Lights series. BeDESIGN is an authorized Flos dealer in Houston, Texas. We carry the full Flos residential and architectural collection. Visit our showroom or request a custom quote.
About Flos
Flos was founded in 1962 in Merano, Italy, by Dino Gavina and Cesare Cassina, two entrepreneurs who saw lighting not as an accessory but as a design discipline in its own right. In 1964, Sergio Gandini joined and moved the company to Bovezzo, in the province of Brescia, where it remains headquartered today.
From the beginning, Flos worked with the most important designers of the era. The Castiglioni brothers, Achille and Pier Giacomo, produced some of the brand's earliest and most enduring pieces, establishing a precedent: Flos would be a platform for design authorship, not anonymous manufacturing.
The Arco lamp
In 1962, Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni designed the Arco floor lamp for the newborn Flos. A stainless steel telescopic arch rises from a block of Carrara marble, projecting light two meters from its base: overhead illumination without a ceiling fixture. The Castiglioni brothers were inspired by the streetlights of Paris, which illuminate from a distance thanks to their arched forms. Arco is held in the permanent collections of the Triennale Museum in Milan and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Key designs
The Castiglioni brothers also created the Parentesi lamp (a sliding spotlight on a vertical cable, winner of the 1979 Compasso d'Oro) and the Toio floor lamp (a surrealist assemblage of a car headlamp on a telescopic fishing-rod stem). These pieces established Flos's reputation for wit, rigor, and formal invention.
More recently, London-based Cypriot designer Michael Anastassiades created the IC Lights series for Flos, a family of table, wall, floor, and pendant lamps built around a sphere balanced on the edge of a rod. Launched in 2014, IC Lights has become one of the most recognizable lighting designs of the past decade.
Flos and the B&B Italia Group
Flos is part of the Flos B&B Italia Group, alongside B&B Italia and Maxalto, all of which BeDESIGN carries. This shared parentage means the brands are designed to coexist, and we can help you coordinate lighting and furniture across the group's collections.
Why designers specify Flos
Flos is specified when lighting needs to be both functional and authored, when the fixture itself is a design statement, not just a light source. The brand's range spans architectural recessed systems, decorative table and floor lamps, and outdoor lighting, all designed by named architects and designers. For projects where lighting is part of the design narrative, Flos is the standard reference.
“Flos has always been the trailblazer of excellence in design lighting. Whether it’s contract or residential, they never fail to bring a unique perspective. Just when you think they might have shown it all, this Milan Design Week, they unveiled astonishing new pieces. I’m already counting the days until they grace our showroom. If you know Flos, you know you’re in for the pinnacle of contemporary, high-end design.”
Adrian Dueñas, Co-founder, BeDESIGN
Why Buy Flos at BeDESIGN
BeDESIGN is Houston's authorized Flos dealer, offering the full residential and architectural lighting collections with specification support, trade pricing, and delivery throughout Texas. As a dealer for Flos, B&B Italia, and Maxalto, all part of the same group, we can coordinate your entire lighting and furniture specification.
Visit our showroom at 2016 W Alabama St to see Flos lighting in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BeDESIGN an authorized Flos dealer?
Yes. BeDESIGN is an authorized Flos dealer in Houston, Texas. We carry the full Flos residential and architectural lighting collections and provide specification support for residential and commercial projects.
What is Flos best known for?
Flos is best known for the Arco floor lamp (1962) by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, one of the most iconic lighting designs ever produced. Other landmark pieces include the Parentesi (1979 Compasso d'Oro winner), the Toio floor lamp, and the IC Lights series by Michael Anastassiades. Flos has been producing designer lighting since 1962.
What is the relationship between Flos, B&B Italia, and Maxalto?
Flos, B&B Italia, and Maxalto are all part of the Flos B&B Italia Group. BeDESIGN is an authorized dealer for all three brands, which allows us to coordinate lighting and furniture from the same design ecosystem for a cohesive interior.
Who designs for Flos?
Flos's roster includes Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Michael Anastassiades, Patricia Urquiola, Konstantin Grcic, Marcel Wanders, Jasper Morrison, and many others. The brand functions as a platform for design authorship, and each fixture is credited to its designer.
Does Flos offer architectural lighting?
Yes. Flos has a dedicated architectural lighting division with recessed, track, and integrated systems for residential and commercial applications. BeDESIGN can provide specification support for architectural Flos installations.
How long does a Flos order take?
Lead times for Flos lighting vary by product. Many standard pieces are available within 4 to 8 weeks, while custom or architectural specifications may take longer. BeDESIGN provides timelines with every quote.
Schedule a Consultation
Every piece at BeDESIGN is custom-quoted for your project. Contact us for a complimentary design consultation at our Houston showroom, or request pricing by phone or email.
BeDESIGN | 2016 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77098 | (713) 623-1177 | hello@be-design.us