It's a family affair
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
A family story about light, design - and why Le Sfere by Astep is at home in both stilwerk hotels .
Some design classics need no introduction. The Le Sfere chandelier by Astep is one of them for us. It's one of the first objects guests notice in our hotels – and remains one of the most important elements of our interior design concept. Because Le Sfere is far more than just an iconic light fixture. It's the story of a family that has shaped lighting design for generations.
Three generations, one shared idea
Astep was founded in 2014 by Alessandro Sarfatti. However, his goal was never to start from scratch. Rather, he sees his work as a logical continuation of what two generations before him had already begun.
His grandfather, Gino Sarfatti, founded the legendary company Arteluce in 1939 and designed more than 600 lamps – many of which are now considered milestones of Italian design. His father, Riccardo Sarfatti, continued this legacy with the founding of Luceplan, combining design, technology, and architecture in a new way. Alessandro, in turn, carries on this heritage with Astep – not as a nostalgic homage, but as a contemporary interpretation. For him, innovation arises from the respectful dialogue between past and future.
An icon called Le Sfere
Few lamps embody this attitude better than Le Sfere. Starting in 1959, Gino Sarfatti developed an entire family of lamps around an idea that was as simple as it was ingenious: an opal-white, mouth-blown glass sphere held by a lacquered aluminum ring.
What seems obvious at first glance was revolutionary at the time. A flexible system emerged from a single basic geometric form – from the individual pendant lamp to the iconic chandelier with 24 light spheres, which, among other things, still characterizes the Teatro Regio in Turin today.
Gino Sarfatti was fascinated by the moon and its even, soft light. This very idea is still reflected in Le Sfere today: a light source that doesn't dominate the room, but fills it with an almost floating lightness.
© Astep
Light as part of architecture
Perhaps that is exactly why Le Sfere is such a perfect fit for our hotels.
At both the stilwerk Hotel Heimhude and the stilwerk Strandhotel Blankenese, we understand interior design not as mere decoration, but as part of a holistic spatial experience. Architecture, materials, light, and furniture together tell a story.
The Le Sfere chandelier becomes our signature piece. It combines historical architecture with contemporary design and creates an atmosphere that guests often notice as soon as they enter the house.
© Top left and center: Maike Grimm | Bottom left: stilwerk, photo: Brita Soennichsen / Bottom right: Marc Krause
A living showroom
For 30 years, stilwerk has understood design as something that wants to be experienced.
That's why we don't showcase design in the classical sense, but in its natural context – where people live, work, travel, and spend time. Our hotels are part of this idea: places where furniture, lighting, and materials are not displayed, but used.
Anyone who falls in love with a design object in our hotels can learn more about it – and discover many of the pieces via stilwerk.
More than just a light
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of Astep is that the brand itself doesn't constantly strive for novelty. Alessandro Sarfatti describes his company's philosophy as "taking a small step forward"—innovation arises not from radical breaks, but from the continuous development of good ideas.
Perhaps that's precisely why Le Sfere seems more relevant today than ever. Not because it follows trends, but because it never had to.
