4p1b: 273 frozen water vases for de vecchi

‘273 for de vecchi’ by 4p1b, milan, italyall images courtesy of 4p1b

water is one of the few substances in nature in which the process of solidification has an increase on its specific volume. milan-based design studio 4p1b has created, thanks to the experience of  ‘de vecchi milano 1935’, a series of silver vases whose forms depend on the expansion of water inside of them when cooled to 273 degrees kelvin or 0 degrees celsius. each piece of the collection is entirely unique, as water always expands in subtly different ways.

the vessels are made using only semi-industrial artifacts with simple and powerful geometries. without a form that becomes overly distractingfrom the heart of the project, the result is a portrait of the process frozen in time, rather than merely a product. all the initial shapes are identical, but the end result is completely original. each raw metal volume is then coated in silver, adding a touch of elegance but more importantly highlights the intricacies of the surface’s contours as it reflects slightly distorted representations of its environment.

process

the pieces are all unique and differ in their openness and curves and deformation

variously-sized pieces