It is perfectly curved, multifunctional and very original. Do you have any idea what I am talking about? No? Ok, let me give you a hint. It is an interior piece, something I can imagine almost everyone dying to have on their desk. It is a brand new invention by the talented Italian-born architect and designer Alessandro Isola, called the Interstice vase.
As you can probably guess by now, it is not just another regular vase though, there’s something more to it, starting with the fact that it is a 3D printed object that not only looks aesthetic, but also serves its function perfectly.
Following on from the Dunes Bowl, Interstice vase is part of a series of products experimenting with the forms and details allowed to the designer by 3D printing, created with laser sintered nylon powder. The series takes simple everyday objects and reinterprets them in a more contemporary form by morphing them to create sculptural pieces.
As good as it looks alone, the vase actually consists of two parts that are symbiotic and thus come together as if two halves of a coffee bean. As Isola reveals, the 3D printed form is a continuous investigation into the vase that questions what qualities it must have and explores its possible secondary functions. Yes, it turns out that even a vase can be used for multiple purposes.
The solid rear of Interstice forms the spine of both halves, and as the form moves around to the front it becomes increasing and regularly perforated allowing glimpses through the product and thus displaying the vase’s contents. You can move it around or bring the two curvy halves together to create the illusion of apertures opening and closing.
Stand Interstice vertically and it functions as a vase, lay one of the pieces down and voilà – the gentle curves instantly form a bowl, perfect for trinkets, fruit, snacks or any other miniature items. In other words, it is a more than great addition to a modern interior.
Who would have thought that 3D printing will become such a major part of today’s industrial design world one day? Yet here we are, impatiently waiting for another masterpiece that will facilitate our everyday life and satisfy ourcravings for visually appealing but also functional art. And whatever the next part of Alessandro Isola’s 3D series is, I’m sure it will be just as unforgettable.
