Architectural pendant lights can either be subtle and blend into the environment, or bold to make a design statement. Here are some pendants that are both functional, illuminative, and space-defining.

Tham & VidegÃ¥rd Hansson designed the Top Lamp in 2009. It’s a folded metal pendant lamp with a bottom sealed with translucent plastic to diffuse the light. One of its corners can be tilted by the user, adding to its sculptural quality.

Baring resemblance to traditional Chinese lanterns, the Bell Suspension Lamp by Fly Design for Axo Light consists of a metal structure covered with stripes of super smooth pongè fabric that’s also flame retardant.

Organic and sculptural, Simon Karkov’s Norm 12 lamp is a softer take on the original and much-loved Norm 69 lamp by Normann Copenhagen. The lap comes in two sizes and has a pure, matte white finish, allowing it to be integrated into nearly any environment.

The Altrove 600 Suspension Light by Carlotta de Bevilacqua adds geometric elegance and subtle lighting with its stainless steel perimeter and matte-finished prismoptic lateral diffuser and engraved transparent methacrylate front diffuser.

Ideal of incandescent lighting, the Ottavia pendant light by Marco Bianchini for Anton Angeli uses light segments to evoke a spherical shape with their crossing light lines, sleek finish, and modern curves.