The Tile Gallery partners with Lodes to discuss why lighting has become one of the most important considerations in contemporary design.
On June 3, architects, interior designers, and members of Manila’s design community gathered at Gallery 7 Design Center for “The Language of Light,” an event built around a question that has become increasingly relevant in contemporary interiors, and that’s “What role does light play in shaping the way people experience a space?” Hosted by The Tile Gallery and Italian lighting manufacturer Lodes, the experience examined a shift that both companies have been observing in recent years: design has moved beyond visual appeal alone. A growing number of architects and designers are considering how people move through a room, how materials change throughout the day, and how a space feels over time.
READ ALSO: Costa Calatagan: A Holistic Coastal Respite For The Senses
How The Tile Gallery And Lodes Created Foundations Built On Quality
The event was hosted by Lodes, an Italian lighting manufacturer founded in Venice in 1950, and The Tile Gallery, a Philippine design showroom that has spent two decades expanding its definition of what a tile store could be. The Tile Gallery has grown into a curated space covering fixtures, lighting, door hardware, and furniture, where the emphasis has always been on the details people actually live with. That trajectory made a conversation about light feel like a natural next step.
Both companies have been watching the same shift happen in contemporary design: spaces are no longer evaluated on looks alone. Architects and designers are increasingly asking how people move through a room, how materials read at different times of day, and how an environment holds up emotionally over time.
How Lighting Becomes A Design Tool For Lodes And The Tile Gallery
For Lodes, the aforementioned ideas have informed its work for decades. Founded in Venice in 1950, the company grew from a family-run manufacturer into an international lighting brand with a presence in more than 90 markets. Throughout that expansion, it maintained a view of lighting as a design element, one that holds a structural role within any interior.
Speaking at the event, Lodes Managing Director Massimiliano Tosetto described light as a medium that connects design and emotion. A well-positioned fixture, he explained, can influence how people navigate a room and how they relate to the environment around them. Tosetto also pointed to similarities between Italian and Filipino approaches to craft. Both traditions place value on making, material quality, and storytelling, which gave the partnership a sense of mutual exchange rather than a straightforward introduction of an Italian manufacturer into a new market.
The shared values between The Tile Gallery and Lodes extend beyond aesthetics. As Lodes’ principals explained, “The collaboration between The Tile Gallery and Lodes feels natural because it is rooted in shared values: a strong cultureCultureshared traditions, beliefs, values, customs, arts, and social practices that define the identity and way of life of a community, society, or nation.Go to Culture Glossary of design, a respect for materials, and a belief in collaboration as part of the creative process.”
They added that, at Lodes, “relationships are at the core of how we work with designers, architects and partners, because we believe meaningful projects are always the result of dialogue and exchange. Light, in this sense, is not an isolated object but something that comes to life within a network of expertise and sensibilities.”
This philosophy aligns closely with The Tile Gallery’s own evolution and its view of interiors as interconnected environments where every element contributes to atmosphere and spatial identity. According to Lodes’ principals, “What makes the partnership feel natural is this common mindset. It is a commitment to intentional design, where quality, coherence and long-term vision matter more than decorative effect alone.”
“This gathering is not only about introducing our new products, but also about strengthening relationships, sharing ideas, and enjoying meaningful moments together,” shared Kenneth Hing, President of The Tile Gallery, in a speech.
Fixtures That Are Made To Measure
Through its Out of Scale and Standard Bespoke initiatives, Lodes allows designers to modify fixtures for specific residential, hospitality, and commercial projects. The programs accommodate different dimensions and configurations, giving architects greater flexibility than standard product lines typically allow. “The combination of lamps and canopies allows us to develop compositions that are always specific to the architectural context,” the principals explain. “In this way, light is not a predefined object but a design response.”
“Every project becomes an opportunity to create a unique lighting scenario, calibrated to space, proportions and atmosphere,” they continue. “It is this specificity that makes a space personal: when light is designed for that exact context, it directly contributes to shaping its perception and identity.”
This emphasis on customization reflects a manufacturing philosophy that prioritizes adaptation over uniformity. Each project presents its own requirements, and the lighting responds accordingly. For Lodes, this approach reflects a broader understanding of luxury. “Today’s luxury is increasingly defined by experience rather than excess,” its principals add. “At Lodes, we believe that experience is defined by the uniqueness of the luminous output. It is the ability to create tailor-made solutions that makes spaces feel memorable, intimate and personal.”
For attendees, the evening provided access to the thinking behind a Italian manufacturer. Instead of presenting products in isolation, the event focused on how lighting interacts with architecture, materials, and everyday use. As conversations around design continue to move toward experience and habitation, that distinction resonates more strongly. Light remains one of the most effective tools for shaping how a space functions, and how it’s ultimately remembered.
The Lodes Showroom is located at Gallery 7 Design Center, San Juan City.
Photos courtesy of The Tile Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Lodes is an Italian lighting manufacturer founded in Venice in 1950. The company designs decorative and architectural lighting solutions and distributes its products in more than 90 markets worldwide.
Lodes is known for combining Italian craftsmanship, contemporary design, and advanced lighting technology. The company also offers customizable lighting solutions for residential, hospitality, and commercial projects.
Lodes offers customization through its Standard Bespoke and Out of Scale programs, which allow designers to modify lighting fixtures and create compositions tailored to specific architectural requirements.
The Tile Gallery and Lodes approach design as a collaborative process where materials, lighting, architecture, and craftsmanship work together to create spaces that are functional, memorable, and emotionally resonant.
Lighting shapes how people experience a space. It influences atmosphere, highlights materials, and affects how people move through and interact with their surroundings.
