The Ridge Vase by Studio Kaksikko presents a new way to display flowers through its sculptural expression along with an artful character when not in use. Studio Kaksikko is a Helsinki-based design studio founded by Salla Luhtasela and Wesley Walters. The duo met while studying at Aalto University of Arts, Design and Architecture and have collaborated on a broad range of professional projects under the studio name Kaksikko.
Speaking on the thoughts behind the expression of the Ridge Vase, they explain: “We consider ourselves form givers before designers and our process of working with our hands from an early stage has a large influence on the designs that we create,” and continue: “With the Ridge Vase, we sought to combine its visual appeal with the usability for placing flowers in a linear formation rather than a circular formation.”
The Making Of | The Ridge Vase
In the western area of central Portugal is the city of Alcobaça, a small town with roughly 15,000 inhabitants, placed in a valley along the rivers of Alcoa and Baça from where the city takes its name. Located in a residential area is the workshop of João, a mould maker for more than forty years. After designers Studio Kaksikko had made the first mock-ups of the Ridge Vase in paper, João set out to translate the design into handmade moulds that could be used to sculpt the ceramic vase.
After having finalised the first mould, João went onto make what is referred to as the mother mould, handmade in four different sections to ensure a minutely precise result. From there, a number of production moulds are made in hand and tested at the ceramic factory to ensure that all dimensions and details are perfectly communicated into the final piece. Due to the detailed reliefs on the vase and to produce a design in a high level of quality, the production moulds can be used between 50 to 70 times per mould before being replaced by new ones.
After the handmade production moulds have been finalised, production begins some 30 minutes drive away from João's workshop at a second-generation ceramic factory with roughly 70 employees that have been running for more than 40 years. Here, liquid clay is poured into the plaster moulds to shape the Ridge Vase, leaving it to sit for two hours before turning the mould upside down to remove the excess of clay. After that, the mould is opened, allowing for the vase to dry before being glazed and fired at 1000° Celsius for about eight hours.
To finally unveil a beautiful sculptural piece that can shine on it's own, or compliments any bouquet of floral arrangement.
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