yung ho chang of atelier FCJZ for alessi: a lotus leaf tray

‘a lotus leaf’ by yung ho chang all images courtesy yung ho chang

beijing-based architect yung ho chang of atelier FCJZ has created ‘a lotus leaf’. the organically-sculpted tray has been designed for italian manufacturer alessi’s (UN)forbidden city collection. the shape of the grooved metallic serving plate is derived from the form of a wilted lotus leaf. yung ho chang aspired to remove his typically meticulous approach to design in the formation of the piece, engaging the power of time and the environment to shape the work. firstly, the architect picked the plant. six months after drying the organic material, the texture further emerged. the designer then preserved the dried leaf’s tactile quality by scanning the specimen in order to digitally capture the natural formation of the fading bio-material. the uneven surface of the tray recalls the disintegration of a once-live plant, the gleaming nature of the piece existing in perfect juxtaposition to the preserved shape of an object typically made weaker and less brilliant with time.

  an image portraying the conceptual approach to the piece

by commissioning the (UN)forbidden city collection, alessi sought to organize their first exploration of the potential of chinese product design.under the project guidance of gary chang, the company invited eight chinese architects to design a tray-container. the serving piece is a classic form in the alessi range of production – an item to which generations of designers have put themselves to the test. alessi hopes for this collection to exist as grounds for experimentation: such a seemingly simple object offers a great starting point for an exchange of ideas regarding the relations between architecture and design, starting from the cultural traditions of the east and west.

side perspective of the piece

sketches of ‘a lotus leaf’ 

process sketches of the tray

able to lie flat on a surface with 3 level fulcrum points (found on the obverse side) – the reverse side of the tray can also be utilized

the designer, yung ho chang of atelier FCJZ, and his workimage courtesy alessi