canisters by peter zumthor for alessiimage © francesco mattuzzi

 

swiss architect peter zumthor has designed a set of canisters for alessi based on a quick sketch hung on the wall of his atelier _the narrative behind each design giving the forms their own unique personality. the organic pieces are fabricated from frosted glass and stainless steel, the set including am oil/vinegar cruet, a salt and paper shaker, spice canister and sugar pourer.

 

zumthor describes the story behind the work:

 

‘some years ago, while having breakfast in a hotel, I used a salt shaker to season my egg. maybe because I disagreed with the what I had in my hand I made a quick sketch of thin lines suggesting an object which could hold grains or liquids. one day, the memory of my morning in the hotel came back to me and I recalled why I made the sketch. at once, I took the sketch down to my model workshop and asked iris to produce a series of glycerine soap models according to the sketch which should look like brothers and sisters, small and big but all members of the same family. she shaped a beautiful menagerie of glycerine soap objects resembling frosted glass.’

 

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zumthor will today, the 6th of february 2013, be presented with the royal institute of british architects (RIBA) royal gold medal at a ceremony in london. the renowned architect is celebrated for running a ‘small yet powerful and uncompromising practice’ – founded  in 1979 in switzerland. some of his best known projects include the kunsthaus bregenz (1997) – a glittering glass and concrete cube that overlooks lake constance (bodensee) in austria; the cavernous thermal baths in vals, switzerland (1999); the kolumba diocesan museum (2007), in cologne; and the bruder klaus field chapel, located by a farm near wachendorf. he also currently designing a house in the devon for alain de botton’s living architecture scheme.

 

 

canisters by peter zumthor for alessiimage © francesco mattuzzi