family of objects

We all know Rotterdam was bombed during WW2. In the 80 years that followed however, Rotterdam has developed tremendously in its architecture. This is why I wanted to combine the growth of Rotterdam and incorporate it into something physical that could be enjoyed in any home, such as the growth of plants.

For my family of objects, I designed a series of pots that each represent a different time in Rotterdam’s development.

I chose to do this because I too have experienced Rotterdam's development in different time frames, I used to visit here yearly. Seeing the architecture being built was like watching a very slow time-lapse.

The first pot is a representation of Rotterdam's centre right after the disaster, when everything was destroyed except for the church. For this pot I designed a decagon cylindrical pot that resembles the architecture of the Sint-Laurenskerk, since this was the only building left standing after the disaster. Additionally, part of the pot will be charred to symbolize the destruction Rotterdam underwent during WW2.

The second pot is inspired by the Rotterdam Central Station. Just like the station, I wanted to incorporate playful corners that direct the attention to different parts of the pot. While the third pot will represent modern architecture and the way forward for Rotterdam. This pot will be shaped to be more elongated with a rectangular form and it will also have an overhanging feature. Similar features are found in buildings such as The Red Apple and De Rotterdam, where the weight of the building seems as if it's hovering over the ground.

I decided to make more designs and models, as well as expand on existing ideas

For this pot I wanted to experiment with moving/shape changing pots, this idea came from the fact that plants grow themselves and I wanted to design a pot that reflected that.

This experimental pot has an adjustable band that allows the edges of the pot to flair upwards. The extent to which it flairs is adjustable by moving the band higher and lower on the pot.

Another series of experimental pot designs was one where the pot would be designed in such a way that it would benefit the plant.

One such way is through providing shade for the plant, as most plants grow better in non-direct sunlight.

Another way the design of the pot can benefit the plant is by adding a fence like pattern to promote upwards growth for climbing plants.

Target Audience:
- people who own many houseplants
- for people who wish to decorate their plants
- people who are looking for alternative ways to showcase their plants

The first overhang I made looked bulky and too simple. Additionally, it had a large compartment for dirt and a limited compartment for stem growth, and the base of the pot served no purpose other than providing support.

I expanded on the idea of overhangs. For my next model I wanted to make one that eliminates the bottom support. This of course meant I needed to find another way to support the weight of the overhang. my solution for this was to add a large compartment to add dirt which would ground the pot better as most of its weight would be distributed in the pillar

Cons: pot is very unstable

The previous test model was unstable as not enough weight was distributed to the pillar. This is why I decided to make a different type of support, one where the beam is slanted so that the centre of gravity is directly under the potting soil compartment.

Cons:

For this model I wanted to make a pot that engulfs the entire base of the plant and potting soil, while keeping the leaves exposed for sunlight. However it is still incomplete and remains as an experiment.

Although I liked the retro feel of the square tiles on the clay, it was very ineffective. The round shape was much easier to stick to the clay especially when using water.

When making the half pots I had to go through a constant trial and error period. This was largely due to the fact that it was very difficult to create a nice flat shape with clay. Virtually every material I used to flatten out the clay was too grippy. Eventually I used paper, which worked well for a while but after the 3rd time the clay rips pieces of paper of the sheet. So I opted for thicker clay but that didn't change much

I wanted to make at least one of the pots on the throwing wheel which is why I made many variations of different shapes and sizes. In the beginning I faced a lot of mistakes and errors, but as I kept doing it I got more comfortable and confident in my ability.

Using the Lathe is something I wanted to do for a while. Getting the chance to make a pot from it was very exiting. I luckily got a lot of help from the instructors after which I was able to complete the basic shape of the pot. The rest of the pot will be complete with the help of a dremel (rotary tool).

For these pots I used a combination of throwing clay and hand sculpting. This process brought awareness to a flaw in some of the pots I made for this purpose, specifically the size of the hole in the pot. I found that it substantially decreases the size of the hole which is why I made a pot that has a much larger hole

After the form and the detailing of the pot, I spray painted it to resemble the destruction of the second world war and I covered it in varnish since wood is very absorbent to moisture.