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B Fora Vaza by Nicolau dos Santos

B Fora Vaza by Nicolau dos Santos is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Srebrna nagrada A' Design Award in Dizajn Namještaja Competition Category.


SrebroNamještaj· 2021

B Fora Vaza

by Nicolau dos Santos

Client: Iammi

Srebrna nagrada A' Design Award Winner in Namještaj Category

Colors

The Design

About B Fora Vaza

B Fora je keramička vaza dizajnirana za enterijere domova. Forma reinterpretira klasičnu grčku amforu i dodaje zakrivljene površine i dvije prave drške. Proporcije su proučavane tako da vaza ostane u ravnoteži nakon što se izvadi iz kalupa. Unutrašnjost je uronjena u sjajni kristalinični premaz koji vazu čini vodootpornom, tako da se tekućine mogu sigurno držati. B Fora se može koristiti za serviranje pića, za držanje cvijeća ili kao dekorativni predmet. Vaza je izrađena od bijele keramike tehnikom lijevanja u kalup.

The Recognition

About the Srebrna nagrada A' Design Award

B Fora Vaza je pobjednik Srebrne nagrade A' Design Award, izuzetno prestižnog priznanja koje se dodjeljuje vrhunskim, veličanstvenim i impresivnim dizajnima. Srebrni pobjednici iznimno su briljantna i vrlo kreativna djela koja ilustriraju izuzetnu stručnost, talent i oštroumnost svojih dizajnera. Očekuje se da B Fora Vaza bude divno, reprezentativno djelo koje je izuzetno profesionalno i duboko inovativno. Ovaj dizajn koji je osvojio Srebrnu nagradu A' Design Award vrlo je zapažen, nadaleko cijenjen izum koji koristi i pomjera granice umjetnosti, nauke, dizajna i tehnologije. B Fora Vaza je kreacija kojoj se mnogi dive i zavide, koja budi želje, donosi pozitivne osjećaje i raspiruje čuđenje i divljenje.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
The idea is to redesign the classic greek amphora into a modern piece that perfectly fits our home interiors. A b side has been offered to an amphora to become a B fora. The curvy curves that characterize the vase and the two straight handles have been carefully designed to keep the vase in perfect balance once extracted from the mold. With the waterproof coating on his internal side, the vase can contain liquids inside.
Dimensions & Packaging
B fora

​Material: Whiteware ceramic

External finish (depends on the edition):
Skin: acrylic coloring
My friend: transparent matte finishing
Special: depending on the artist choice

Internal finish: dipped it in the crystalline glossy and waterproof coating

Size: 165 x 120 x h.350 mm

Weight: 1200gr.

Packaging

Dimensions: 210 x 400 x h.150 mm

Material: white recycled cardboard with white shaped foam layer
Tags
vase, ceramic, interior, greekstyle, homedecor, amphora
Production Technology
The B fora is born in the atelier of the Italian master ceramist Michele Puzzo. After realizing the render images and technical draws of the B fora, the vase has been craved on a plaster cylinder using the traditional pottery lathe and sculpting the femminile curves with an accurate handwork.
The production of the vases has been made with the slipcasting technique.
The shape of the vase has been carved inside the packaging into a layer of foam that prevents the vase from being knocked during the shippings.
Design Challenge
Finding the right balance between the aesthetic of the vase and its possible realization on a production that uses the slipcasting technique.
In particular, the challenge came out during the drying phase, after the vase was taken off from the mold. The narrowest parts of the vase have been designed several times to reach the right balance and avoid the collapse of the vase due to the weight.
Research
History: the vases have always been connected to the femininity because of their qualities of receiving and containing liquids. The pregnant woman who carries the baby in her lap protecting, feeding, and giving him/her everything needed can be a clear example of it.
Subconscious: in psychology also, the vase has always been associated with women. According to Freud, the vase symbolizes the woman and the relations with the opposite sex.
Alchemy: finally, in Medieval literature we find the Holy Grail, the vase which contains the elixir of life, an image that immediately suggests the woman gift of life.
Inspiration
B fora is born from the desire to combine the beauty and harmony of Greek conception of body perfection with our contemporary graceful female body silhouette.
Combining the Greek and the modern canons of beauty, a new side has been revealed: the B side. This new amphora is not just a piece of furniture, but a way to talk about the modern beauty as the ancients Greeks did.
Project Duration
The project idea came in March 2019 after a personal study on ancient greek art. We started working on the shapes for more than 3 months, trying to combine the idea of the beauty perfection of ancient greeks with our contemporary conception. The prototyping phase started in June and took 3 months to reach the right shapes. From September till December we realized the production of the 70 vases, the packaging, and the gadgets connected to the product. Everything took place in Milan, Italy.
Operation Flow
B fora is a vase that can be used for serving beverage during your meals, for contains flowers and for interiors decor. In the documentation that can be found inside the packaging, there is a sticky hand toy, to spank the vase when it deserves it.
Team Members
Designer: Nicolau dos Santos
Art director: Stephanie Blanchard
Image Credits
Image #1 : Photographer Tiago Marques, B fora, 2020.
Image #2 : Photographer Tiago Marques, B fora, 2020.
Image #3 : Photographer Tiago Marques, B fora, 2020.
Image #4 : Photographer Tiago Marques, B fora, 2020.
Image #5 : Photographer Tiago Marques, B fora, 2020.

Video credits: Tania de Pascalis, B fora skin edition catalog, 2020.

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