Plan Ta Vasu Modulare by Xavier Zhagui is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award di Ferru in Stampa 3D Competition Category.

FerruStampa 3D· 2024

Plan Ta Vasu Modulare

by Xavier Zhagui

Client: DEZIGN for X

A' Design Award di Ferru Winner in Stampa 3D Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Plan Ta Vasu Modulare

U cuncepidore hè statu ispiratu da a so infanzia circundatu da piante naturali è blocchi di custruzzione in a so stanza. Questu hà suscitatu a quistione di sapè s'ellu ci era una manera di cumbinà i dui. Utilizendu e pruprietà uniche di i poliedri di riempimentu di u spaziu è a stampa 3D, u cuncepidore hà sappiutu truvà una risposta à sta quistione. A suluzione s'hè manifestata in Plan Ta, un sistema di blocchi di custruzzione magnetichi per piante chì ùn ponu micca solu tene una varietà di piante d'internu, ma ancu esse aduprati per custruisce è ghjucà.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award di Ferru

Plan Ta Vasu Modulare hè un vincitore di u premiu A' Design Award di Ferru, una ricunniscenza prestigiosa attribuita à i boni disegni chì rispondenu à i requisiti prufessiunali è industriali aspettati da creazioni ben cuncipite. I vincitori di Ferru dimustranu una grande abilità, una alta specializazione, una cumpresa esperta è a capacità creativa di i so creatori. Si aspetta chì Plan Ta Vasu Modulare sia una creazione assai apprezzata, ammirata è cara chì hè pratica è innuvatrice. Stu disegnu vincitore di u premiu A' Design Award di Ferru integra e migliori pratiche di u settore è hà caratteristiche tecniche cumpetenti ligate à u sapè fà è à u talentu. Plan Ta Vasu Modulare hè rispettatu per a so meticulosità è hè cuncipitu per furnisce miglioramenti di a qualità di a vita chì aiutanu à fà di u mondu un locu megliu.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Utilizing the unique properties of space filling polyhedrons and 3D printing, I was able to create a system of magnetic planter building blocks that you can play and build with. The modular properties of the design allow for space saving advantages by packing multiple planters together into one structure rather than spread out on a surface. A series of sizes has been created to house different types of plants, the smallest being an air plant, and the biggest being a house plant.
Dimensions & Packaging: Small Vase
50.8mm x 71.8mm x 50.8mm
Large Vase
127mm x 179.6mm x 127mm
Tags: 3D Printing, Vase, Modular, digital fabrication, dezignforx
Production Technology: Inner and outer shell are (FDM) 3d printed with a textured finish. Neodymium Sphere magnets are inserted as the connection points. The material is PETG for its water resistance.
Design Challenge: Creating an intuitive module that functioned both as a planter and building blocks that were fun and easy to build with.
Research: Creating a modular form that was intuitive to use and had a simple form led me to research space-filling polyhedrons. Utilizing the rapid prototyping abilities of 3d printing I was able to iterate and experiment with various polyhedron forms to find the most efficient solution. After concluding that rhombic dodecahedron would be the most balanced solution between efficiency and aesthetics, I experimented with different joint connections that would join the modules together. A series of freely rotating magnetic spheres inserted into the vase provided a simple yet effective way of joining the modules together. Material was the final stage of research, 3D printed PLA was the initial choice for its unique characteristics of biodegradability. Unfortunately, it is a very porous material which allowed drainage water leak from the vase. 3D printed PETG was more effective for its water-resistant properties. PETG is not biodegradable compared to PLA, but we are currently researching ways to recycle and cut waste, such as utilizing print to order 3d printing manufacturing strategies compared to wasteful mass production plants.
Inspiration: During my childhood I found a deep appreciation for natural plants in my room, and I spent a lot of time playing around and creating with building blocks. I wondered if there was a way to combine the two simple ideas. That question is what drove me to explore different geometries and manufacturing processes such as 3D printing to discover a solution.
Project Duration: The project was started in July 2018 in Las Vegas and is in the final stages of development for production.
Operation Flow: All vases connect to each other magnetically by aligning the faces of a vase of the same size allowing you to stack them in any axis. A wall mount has also been designed, allowing you to tile any size vase onto a vertical surface. There are two sizes available, a small one and a large one.
For the small vase you simply insert the air plant into the vase and take it out when it needs to be watered. The large vase has two shells, an interior shell where the plant lives in, and the exterior shell that collects the drainage. To ease maintenance, the interior shell can be removed to allow for easier watering and trimming.
Patents: Patent Pending
Team Members: Xavier Zhagui
Image Credits: All Images: Photographer Xavier Zhagui, Plan-Ta, 2024.