Nendo Unveils New Gravity-Inspired Melt Furniture for WonderGlass
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Iconic Japanese design studio, Nendo, unveiled new collection of melt furniture that has been designed by its founder and master designer Oki Sato for WonderGlass. These “gravity-formed” pieces mark the Venice-based brand’s debut into furniture design,Nendo Unveils New Gravity-Inspired Melt Furniture for WonderGlass
Iconic Japanese design studio, Nendo, unveiled new collection of melt furniture that has been designed by its founder and master designer Oki Sato for WonderGlass. These “gravity-formed” pieces mark the Venice-based brand’s debut into furniture design, expanding on its existing collection of lighting and objects. Appearing like ice sculptures, this new range by Oki Sato features a U-shaped base formed by the effects of gravity on molten glass. Melt, “features a chair that is comprised of an inverted arched base topped with a contrasting, flat pane of glass, and backed with a larger rectangle of glass,” reports dezeen. Along with the chair, the collection also comprises, as reported by dezeen, “a dozen pieces of furniture, all formed by gravity, over a pipe or mould. These include an armchair, chaise longue, dining table, side table, partition, and vase.”Describing the new collection, Wallpaper writes, “the collection sees the designer pair simple arch shapes with flat panels to form elegant chairs, tables, stools, benches and tabletop pieces with bumpy, imperfect surfaces, which lend them an icy appearance.”Attracted to WonderGlass’ highly skilled craftsmanship, Nendo decided to collaborate with the brand on its new collection. Sato was inspired to design the Melt collection after watching the traditional way that these artisans worked with molten glass in the brand’s workshops. In the designer’s own words, ‘’I was inspired by looking at the workshops, looking at the people working, using the melted material like a child molding a piece of clay. The main idea was to let the glass flow by itself using gravity and using the weight of glass itself. In a way, doing less and achieving more is the most complicated thing to do.”Describing the design process of the new collection, Wallpaper writes, “Nendo’s collection, fittingly named Melt, allows the material to direct the design process using gravity as main characteristic of this labour-intensive production technique. Made by the skilled team of craftsmen at the brand’s factory in Venice, each piece begins as a vat of molten glass scooped out of an oven, poured onto a surface, and rolled out like dough to create an even thickness. Still red hot, the glowing glass sheet is then carefully draped over a steel pipe, which gives a melted form. The piece is left to cool for a few minutes before being prised away from the pipe and lifted into an annealing oven, called a Lehr. The whole process involves a carefully orchestrated symphony of timings and temperatures and requires the team of eight or so craftsmen to work together as one to avoid any mistakes, which can ruin the entire process. If the temperature is just a degree out or the glass stays a few seconds too long in the Lehr, it can crack or shatter as it cools.”Talking about the unique design process adopted for this new collection, Sato said, “I discovered the beauty of glass when I saw that the plate-like glass created a beautiful arch by its own weight, when lifted bya number of craftsmen. I wanted to combine those beautiful flat surfaces withcurves to design this collection.”Commenting about the use of glass in their new collection, WonderGlass founders Maurizio and Christian Mussati said, “The Melt Collection pushes the boundaries and capabilities of cast glass. Nendo has explored the molten liquid nature of the material with incredible skill.”As reported by dezeen, “the Melt collection is presented for the first time at this year’s IMM Cologne trade show through January 20.” The exhibition offers a preview into WonderGlass’ upcoming installation at Milan Design Week in April this year. https://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin Read more