
canisters by peter zumthor for alessi
image © 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.'
--
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.

image © francesco mattuzzi
I would have liked to have seen his sketch. I think he’d had too much coffee that morning judging by the shakey lines.
cngratulations PZ on your latest accolade