How does the Nyta May perform in an office? Viennese architecture practice BFA × KLK tested the pendant lamp for the magazine architektur aktuell. Its report focuses on changing light moods and the quality of the light when dimmed.
BFA × KLK tests May for architektur aktuell
The magazine architektur aktuell selected BFA × KLK to test the lamp in its Vienna office. Nyta shared the published report in its newsletter of 14 January 2025. The architects chose the complete arrangement of three light sources and describe an enthusiastic response in the office as soon as it was installed.
Our article on Nyta’s approach to lamp design and manufacture provides background on the brand.
Three light sources on a string
The arrangement combines an uplight, a spherical sidelight and a spot, which can be used together or separately. BFA × KLK sees three familiar lighting elements threaded above one another into a single composition. In the architects’ account, the uplight can feel dramatic, the sidelight contemplative and the spot calming. Each component keeps its own character while contributing to the whole.
For the basic product configuration, see our existing portrait of the Nyta May and its suspended light elements. This review adds the architects’ experience of using that combination in an office.
Flexibility through the working day
Each light source has its own cable, with an individually selectable length. The architects note that these proportions help determine the character of the installation from the outset. The uplight, sidelight and spot can also be adjusted individually.
The report describes a range of moods suited to the office day: full illumination in the morning and a lounge atmosphere in the evening for those staying later. For BFA × KLK, the flexibility lies in being able to create these different impressions with the same installation.
Light quality when dimmed
The quality of the light itself is a central finding of the report. In the account reproduced by Nyta, BFA × KLK writes: “The light does not become pale, but retains its brilliance” (translated from German). The architects report that the light retains its colour richness even when deeply dimmed. They also observed no sign of flicker as the intensity was reduced.
The field test therefore adds a practical perspective to May’s product portrait. The architects value both the range of lighting moods and the character of the light at low brightness.