ENG I TH
Mulberry tree bark
The branches of the mulberry shrubs are harvested in the autumn, and the innermost layer of bark (white bark) is stripped from the timber and boiled in a mixture of water and soda ash. The strips are then beaten by hand until they have been well separated.
The diffuser is formed by hand sewing each of the prepared clusters of fiber to a cotton grid, which has been fastened to the base structure.
The colour of the material is a soft white that yellows a little with age. To clean diffusers in this material, we recommend that they be dusted or lightly vacuumed.
Mulberry tree bark
The branches of the mulberry shrubs are harvested in the autumn, and the innermost layer of bark (white bark) is stripped from the timber and boiled in a mixture of water and soda ash. The strips are then beaten by hand until they have been well separated.
The diffuser is formed by hand sewing each of the prepared clusters of fiber to a cotton grid, which has been fastened to the base structure.
The colour of the material is a soft white that yellows a little with age. To clean diffusers in this material, we recommend that they be dusted or lightly vacuumed.
Mulberry tree bark
The branches of the mulberry shrubs are harvested in the autumn, and the innermost layer of bark (white bark) is stripped from the timber and boiled in a mixture of water and soda ash. The strips are then beaten by hand until they have been well separated.
The diffuser is formed by hand sewing each of the prepared clusters of fiber to a cotton grid, which has been fastened to the base structure.
The colour of the material is a soft white that yellows a little with age. To clean diffusers in this material, we recommend that they be dusted or lightly vacuumed.
Mulberry tree bark
The branches of the mulberry shrubs are harvested in the autumn, and the innermost layer of bark (white bark) is stripped from the timber and boiled in a mixture of water and soda ash. The strips are then beaten by hand until they have been well separated.
The diffuser is formed by hand sewing each of the prepared clusters of fiber to a cotton grid, which has been fastened to the base structure.
The colour of the material is a soft white that yellows a little with age. To clean diffusers in this material, we recommend that they be dusted or lightly vacuumed.
Mulberry tree bark
The branches of the mulberry shrubs are harvested in the autumn, and the innermost layer of bark (white bark) is stripped from the timber and boiled in a mixture of water and soda ash. The strips are then beaten by hand until they have been well separated.
The diffuser is formed by hand sewing each of the prepared clusters of fiber to a cotton grid, which has been fastened to the base structure.
The colour of the material is a soft white that yellows a little with age. To clean diffusers in this material, we recommend that they be dusted or lightly vacuumed.
WHAT MAKES ANGO ORIGINAL ?
ANGUS HUTCHESON
Founder & Chief Designer of Ango
Pioneer of Sculptural Handcrafted Lighting
British Architect, Contemporary Lighting Designer & Founder of Ango
Angus Hutcheson is a British architect, contemporary lighting designer, and founder of Ango, the internationally recognised lighting studio known for Sculptural Handcrafted Lighting, Organic Modern Lighting, sustainable luxury design, and material innovation. Based in Thailand since 2003, Hutcheson has spent more than two decades creating handcrafted lighting collections, artistic lighting installations, and bespoke sculptural works that combine architecture, Thai craftsmanship, natural materials, and advanced lighting technologies.
Through Ango, he has established a distinctive position within contemporary lighting design, creating work that exists between sculpture, architecture, craft, and light. His designs transform natural and sustainable materials into immersive luminous experiences that shape atmosphere as much as they illuminate space. Today, his work is recognised internationally by architects, interior designers, luxury hospitality brands, collectors, and cultural institutions seeking lighting that combines artistry, innovation, and authenticity.
Quick Facts About Angus Hutcheson
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Founder & Chief Designer of Ango
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British architect and contemporary lighting designer
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Based in Thailand since 2003
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Pioneer of Sculptural Handcrafted Lighting
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Specialist in Organic Modern Lighting
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Known for silk cocoon lighting and material innovation
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Advocate for sustainable luxury design
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Collaborator with Thai artisans and craftspeople
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Creator of bespoke artistic lighting installations
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Regular exhibitor at Maison & Objet Paris and Euroluce Milan since 2008
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Work exhibited at the Museum of Arts and Design, New York; Hara Museum, Tokyo; VIA, Paris; and Gwangju Design Biennale
Early Life and Architectural Foundations
Born and raised in the Chiltern Hills of England, between London and Oxford, Angus Hutcheson's fascination with light began long before his professional career. At the edge of his family garden stood an abandoned stable building above the River Misbourne. The structure had no windows and remained almost entirely dark. As a child, he created small openings in its brick walls, allowing shafts of sunlight to penetrate the darkness and transform the space within.
Reflecting on this experience, Hutcheson has said:
“It was the discovery of a shaft of light in
a dark space that first taught me something
about the magic of architecture and light.”
This early encounter with light became the foundation of a lifelong exploration of atmosphere, perception, and spatial experience.
He later studied architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, where an experimental culture shaped by figures including Alvin Boyarsky, David Greene, and Peter Cook encouraged exploration across architecture, art, and technology. Although he practised architecture in London, he increasingly saw lighting as a more direct and intimate way of shaping human experience.
Founding Ango and the Influence of Thailand
A move to Thailand became the catalyst for a new chapter in Hutcheson's career. Drawn by the country's rich craft traditions, natural materials, and culture of making, he founded Ango in Bangkok in 2003.
From the beginning, Ango was conceived as more than a lighting company. It became a creative laboratory dedicated to exploring the relationship between light, materials, craftsmanship, and sustainable production. As the studio evolved, Ango developed its own production techniques and trained specialist artisan teams capable of realising designs beyond the limits of conventional manufacturing.
This fusion of British architectural thinking and Thai craftsmanship remains central to Ango's identity and has helped bring Thai artisan craftsmanship into the international luxury design conversation.
Inside the Ango Workshop:
Crafting the Orbit Series
Every Orbit Series begins in the Ango workshop, where skilled Thai artisans transform fine rattan into sculptural lighting using specialised handcrafting techniques. This short film offers a behind-the-scenes look at the craftsmanship, patience, and material expertise that define Ango's approach to lighting design.
Material Innovation and Sustainable Luxury
Material innovation lies at the heart of Angus Hutcheson's creative practice. Rather than imposing form onto materials, he begins by exploring how materials interact with light. This process has led to a distinctive material language that has become synonymous with Ango.
Natural silk cocoon remains one of the studio's most celebrated materials, valued for its ability to diffuse light with remarkable softness and depth. Mulberry bark fibre contributes texture and tactility, while finely crafted 1 mm rattan structures introduce strength, delicacy, and a distinctly Southeast Asian sensibility.
More recently, Ango has explored innovative combinations of mulberry bark fibre and recycled fishing net, extending its commitment to sustainable luxury and material innovation.
Sculptural Handcrafted Lighting and the Electric Arcadia
Over the past two decades, Angus Hutcheson has helped define a distinctive approach to contemporary lighting design known as Sculptural Handcrafted Lighting. Rather than treating lighting as a purely functional object, he views light as a medium capable of shaping atmosphere, emotion, and spatial experience. Every Ango piece is conceived as a dialogue between material, structure, craftsmanship, and illumination.
Underlying this philosophy is what Hutcheson describes as an Electric Arcadia:
The phrase captures a central idea within his work: that technological progress and traditional craftsmanship need not be opposing forces. Instead, they can work together to create objects that are innovative, sustainable, and deeply human. This philosophy has positioned Ango within the growing movement of Organic Modern Lighting, where natural materials, contemporary forms, and human-centred design converge.
SIGNATURE LIGHTING
COLLECTIONS
Among the most significant collections in Angus Hutcheson's career are Chrysalis Sky, Paradise, Triple Orbit, Orbette, Jewel One, and the acclaimed Transcendence Series. Together, these works represent the core design vocabulary from which many subsequent Ango designs have evolved.
Chrysalis Sky established Ango's international reputation through its pioneering use of silk cocoon as a light-diffusing material. Paradise explores atmosphere, texture, and organic form. Triple Orbit reflects Hutcheson's fascination with celestial movement and interconnected systems. Orbette distils Ango's language into a refined modular sculptural form, while Jewel One blurs the boundaries between lighting, sculpture, and collectible design.
The Transcendence Series represents the most complete expression of Hutcheson's vision to date.
Moving beyond product design into the realm of artistic lighting installations and architectural lighting sculpture, the series explores transformation, interconnectedness, and the emotional power of light while establishing a platform for Ango's future direction.
International Recognition and Future Vision
Angus Hutcheson's work has received international recognition through design awards, museum exhibitions, and leading design fairs including Maison & Objet Paris, Euroluce Milan, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York (MAD), the Hara Museum in Tokyo, VIA Paris, and the Gwangju Design Biennale.
Angus speaks about "Dead or Alive" Exhibition
See the VDO
For more than two decades, Hutcheson has demonstrated that lighting can be more than illumination. Through Ango, he has expanded the relationship between sculpture, architecture, craftsmanship, sustainability, and light, helping redefine contemporary luxury lighting. On screens of every shape and size, and perfect for long blocks of text.
His work continues to champion Thai craftsmanship, material innovation, and sustainable luxury design while exploring how artistic lighting installations can create deeper connections between people, nature, and the built environment.
In an era increasingly shaped by questions of authenticity and sustainability, Angus Hutcheson has established a distinctive position within international design, demonstrating that light can be architecture, sculpture, atmosphere, and a powerful medium for human connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Angus Hutcheson?
Angus Hutcheson is a British architect, contemporary lighting designer, and founder of Ango. Based in Thailand since 2003, he is internationally recognised for sculptural handcrafted lighting that combines architecture, natural materials, Thai craftsmanship, and sustainable design.
2. What is Ango known for?
Ango is an international lighting design studio creating sculptural handcrafted lighting, bespoke lighting installations, and contemporary lighting collections using materials including silk cocoon, rattan, mulberry bark fibre, and innovative sustainable composites.
3. What is Sculptural Handcrafted Lighting?
Sculptural Handcrafted Lighting is Ango's design philosophy, where lighting is conceived as both functional illumination and sculptural art. Each piece is handcrafted to create atmosphere, texture, and emotional connection within architectural spaces.
4. What materials does Angus Hutcheson use?
His work explores natural and innovative materials including silk cocoon, finely woven rattan, mulberry bark fibre, stainless steel, and sustainable composite materials developed through Ango's research into light and material innovation.
5. Where has Angus Hutcheson's work been exhibited?
His work has been exhibited internationally at Maison & Objet Paris, Euroluce Milan, the Museum of Arts and Design (New York), the Hara Museum (Tokyo), VIA Paris, and the Gwangju Design Biennale.
6. Where are Ango lighting pieces made?
Ango lighting is designed by Angus Hutcheson and handcrafted in Thailand by skilled artisans using specialised production techniques that combine traditional craftsmanship with contemporary technology.