studio swine uses foamed aluminium to form metallic geology cabinets

studio swine uses foamed aluminium to form metallic geology cabinets
all images courtesy of studio swine

studio swine is known for employing unconventional mediums, such as long flowing tresses in their ‘hair highway’ project, to create distinctive, functional design pieces. in continuing their exploration of alternative mediums, they have developed a set of cabinets which are made from foamed aluminium — ultimately a composition of gas-injected pores — a lightweight material that has the appearance of pumice; and which is typically used in the automotive industry behind walls and car bonnets to enhance structural properties.

when the cabinets are closed they appear as boulders a top golden pedestals

a project commissioned by pearl lam galleries, ‘metallic geology’ is a collection of small, sculptural storage units that draw their rocky forms from the customs of chinese landscape painting which often displays expressive depictions of china’s mountainous terrain — bringing the rugged environment indoors, drawing striking contrasts with the power of nature, and the still sanctuary of interiors. here, studio swine have taken what is typically considered an industrial product, and highlighted its intricate beauty.

the boulders reference traditional tea cabinets, with highly polished stainless steel shelving integrated in their cavernous depths, synthesizing ancient chinese practices with the south east asian country’s contemporary industrial production.

a look inside the cavernous depths of the ‘metallic geology’ cabinets

polished stainless steel shelves are integrated within the carved out cabinet shells

detail of the shelves’s contrasting smoothness with the external textured cabinet structure

the foamed aluminium is a composition of gass-filled pores

the lightweight material has the appearance of pumice

full view of a ‘metallic geology’ cabinet

the rocky formations draw their influences from china’s mountainous landscape