Zaha Hadid for Alessi
By Kelle Profita
Alessi, the notable Italian home goods manufacturer and modern tastemakers, has debuted a collaborative collection with renowned architects whose work is now fit for a kitchen table. Based on the 1983 Tea and Piazza project, Alberto Alessi invited 22 architects to tackle the unusual industrial design challenge. One of the most remarkable realizations is designed by Zaha Hadid, the Iraqi-born, internationally applauded deconstructivist.
Ms. Hadid, a student of Rem Koolhaas, has been recognized by the design community for her outstanding and creative buildings as the first female recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004. Her works include the Bridge Pavilion in Zaragoza, Spain, the BMW Central Building in Leipzig, Germany, as well as the London Aquatics Center for the London 2012 Summer Olympics.
Zaha Hadid's Tea and Piazza
The architect describes the design as ” a table sculpture that splits into four elements: teapot, coffee pot, milk jug and sugar bowl. Like a three-dimensional puzzle, the pieces fit together to form a whole. They sit within a tray that guides the user through the multiple configurations, the form changing according to whether or not the set is in use. The “representative mode, ” when the set is unused, is a compact structure that is easily carried around. Formally speaking, the sculpture exploits the idea of contrasting and combining extremely vertical with extremely horizontal objects. The teapot is a wide, flat organic shape, whilst the coffee pot rises from this landscape like a tower. In the “functional mode” the objects are flipped and turned, facilitated by the template of the tray. Each shape has a cut/section that enables the piece to slide onto a different axis, exposing openings for pouring, and producing a completely different composition. “Tea-time” takes on a whole new significance: it becomes a sculptural riddle.”
Limited to 99 editions, the set is only available at www.20ltd.com
