3D printed vases turn your recycled water bottles into design objects

giving a new sense of purpose to otherwise unused plastic water bottles, italian designer libero rutilo blends the trends of upcycling and 3D printing for this series of flower vases. designed for half liter PET water and soft drink bottles, the collection includes four different pattern styles that can be easily screwed into the cap. the 3D printed structure dresses the container and conceals it beneath an aesthetically-pleasing geometric mesh.

the designs give a new sense of purpose to otherwise unused water bottles
all photos by claudio morelli

rutilo’s 3D printed vases can be easily placed on top of a water bottle and fastened to the cap, creating new objects from old. each style generates a different aesthetic approach: ‘spider vase’ is the most organic of the pieces and bears a biomorphic pattern; ‘sinuous vase’ has undulating curves that form a wavy pattern; ‘lace vase’ has a crochet-inspired motif; and ‘knitted vase’ is emphasized by extraordinarily fine detail. ‘of course, you will not clean the planet by recycling just one bottle,’ rutilo says, ‘but if you have a chance to reuse one and turn it into a design object, it can be a first step towards an environmentally friendly lifestyle.’ 

‘lace vase’

‘sinuous vase’

‘spider vase’

‘knitted vase’

the vases can be screwed into the top of a water bottle 

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