PD26 Winner
Category: Urban Furniture
Location: Texas, United States
Designers: Lauren Rottet, Rottet Studio
Design Team: Tomaso Lisca and Luca Argenton
Manufacturer: Rottet Collection
Photographers: Pernille Loof
Crafted in collaboration with master ceramicists in Belgium, the textured ceramic Split Face Planters are cast from a single mold and then meticulously hand-carved and sculpted for unique textures and a one-of-a-kind aesthetic. They are available in warm white or warm gray and accented with a painted bronze metallic glaze that commands attention.
Envisioned as a pair of monumental artifacts reminiscent of a rich ancient society, when paired together, the planters make a larger-than-life statement as they tower overhead at 7 feet tall, reflecting the sun and casting dramatic shadows across their environment. They also come in a 3-foot-high size.
The Split Face Planters are hybrid sculptural vessels designed to offer a mirror to the self and to nature. “My work is about manipulating perception through light, form, texture and color, like the Light and Space artists’ installations I experienced as a child,” says the designer.
“The Split Face Planters have a curved back appearing like rammed earth, and the front is sliced and metallic. The metallic reflection, a special painted bronze metallic glaze I specifically sourced, allows one to see their reflection in the planters while walking toward them, creating the perception of walking into and bonding with nature,” concludes the designer.
They were first displayed at Salone and then at the Newport Art Museum in Rhode Island.
The two sizes measure, Large: W 62cm x D 85cm x H 213cm (W 27.5” x D 27.5” x H 36”) and X-Large: W 70cm x D 70cm x H 91cm (W 24.5” x D 33.5” x H 84”).
Crafted from high-quality clay sourced from various regions of Germany and undergoing a specialized firing process at 1200°C, the planters are built to last a lifetime.
The high firing temperatures and low porosity (approximately 3%) ensure the clay can withstand harsh weather, including frost, making them suitable for year-round outdoor use. Proper drainage is crucial for frost resistance, achieved through built-in drainage holes and the use of rubber feet.
The clay bodies, colored with natural oxides, maintain chromatic consistency and resist damage from continuous exposure to UV rays and humidity.
