LOULÉ, PORTUGAL - 2021

APPLIED ARTS FROM NATURE RESIDENCY

The Applied Arts from Nature Residency focused on the exploration of traditional Mediterranean Algarve crafts through collaborations between designers and craftspeople in the categories of cork, terracotta, tiles, palm and copper.
The challenge was for the teams to create utilitarian pieces within the framework of regenerative design principles utilizing the petals from the Living Product Challenge.
The main goal of this project is to bring social equity, economic restoration, and environmental regeneration to the forefront of the design and creation process, with pieces that will go into production locally and inspire younger generations to continue these crafts.

DESIGNERS

Barbara Drozdek
Brunno Jahara
Célia Esteves
Marre Moerel
Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte

PALM PIECES

CACLÉ I & II

Designed by Célia Esteves
Handmade by Sónia Mendez

Carpet in palm

“Caclé I & II” are inspired by the cactus in Loulé Velho, and marks a return to traditional simple hand weaving. Using the pure leaflet harvested from the mediterranean dwarf palm tree, braided and sewn from this singular wild element. This rug extends its function connecting you with nature, one eye directing towards a more sustainable future.

“Caclé” marks the beginning of a new line at Rug by GUR called GUR PA.

AQUI

Designed by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Handmade by José Luis & Sónia Mendez

Stool in cane and palm

“Aqui” is a stool consisting of wild-harvested cane held together by interlaced palm. Historically in the homes in Algarve, cane was used in the ceilings and in the earth walls. Palm was braided in a technique called empreita and used in a myriad of ways. In this piece the flexible palm is juxtaposed with the rigid strength of the cane creating a balance between comfort and stability. Without flashiness, “Aqui” claims simplicity and reasserts the worth of almost undervalued materials.

CORK PIECES

KANOO

Designed by Brunno Jahara
Handmade by Nuno Farias

Centerpiece in cork

To bring the most natural state of the Cork tree into a useful shape was the initial starting point for the Kanoo centerpieces. The bark of these trees is hand harvested every year in Portugal to be transformed into various states and products.

Kanoo is made from the break of the first harvest, then sliced with minimal angled cuts making the shape of this centerpiece always unique, with its own character. At times natural moss and small plants might be attached to it, creating a mini garden landscape on your table.
The simplicity and strength of the raw elements makes nature the essential designer of these pieces.

FIGOS

Designed by Brunno Jahara
Handmade by Nuno Farias & João Pereira

Vases and candle holder in cork

Four free forms in valpreto cork compose a set of hand finished vases and a candleholder.
The Silhouettes are inspired by figos, figs in Portuguese, a typical fruit from the Algarve area where the pieces were created. This unique cork pattern resembles stone.

SHROOMS

Designed by Brunno Jahara
Handmade by Nuno Farias & Francisco Eugénio

Cork lids and terracotta pots

Mushrooms are everywhere and they are part of our imaginary world, these fungi have magic properties and this was the inspiration behind the set of pots and lids in ceramic and cork. This family of universal lids can also be used on jars.

A playful collection inviting the user to have a little mushroom forest into their own house.

TERRACOTTA PIECES

fonte

Designed by Marre Moerel
Handmade by Francisco Eugénio

Water filter and dispenser in terracotta

Applied design from nature; “fonte” is a water filter based on filtration found in nature where water (rain, ice, snow) filters through the different layers of the earth to create clean fresh drinkable spring water. The object is meant to replace the use of industrially produced water filters to eliminate unnecessary industrial contaminants (plastic) and to return to traditional, low cost techniques and natural materials.

Reintroducing long forgotten methods which are equally viable but no longer in daily practice. The dispenser consists of 2 compartments; both made of unglazed earthenware ceramic whose porous wall structure uses evaporative cooling to reduce the temperature of the water it contains, hence always providing cool drinking water, even in hotter environments.

FOGUINHO

Designed by Marre Moerel
Handmade by Francisco Eugénio

Candle powered space heater in terracotta

“Foguinho” is a small space heater based on the natural occurrence of the sun heating up a stone, which traps and radiates heat, even long after the sun has set. Created by traditional pot throwing techniques and consisting of 2 overlapping ceramic domes placed on a bottom tray, containing 2-4 small lit tea candles; this elegantly simple piece is designed to effectively warm up a small space with a minimal amount of combustion. The heater works by trapping and concentrating the heat that would normally just rise to the ceiling and quickly dissipate. The terracotta domes absorb the thermal energy of the candles converting it into radiant space heat. “Foguinho” also takes away humidity and is great as a foot or hand warmer.

RESPIR-AR

Designed by Barbara Drozdek
Handmade by Francisco Eugénio

Flowerpot, diffuser and odor eliminator in terracotta

“Respir-ar” is a set of objects that help improve the air quality in our living spaces. Nowadays we are facing the problem of air pollution more than ever before. The forms of “Respir-ar” arose in collaboration with the local artisan, through the deconstruction of the Algarve’s region’s most iconic symbol, the ceramic chimney. An outlet for smoke becomes a collection of air purifiers. The flowerpot with traditional cutouts gives a home to the NASA list of the eighteen best plants that clean the air of substances such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichlorethylene.
The antiviral diffuser for propolterapy provides antibiotic, antiviral, and immune protection. The container for sodium bicarbonate absorbs the smell in the smaller spaces.

TILES PIECES

ARESTA RE-VIVA

Designed by Barbara Drozdek
Handmade by Rui & Maria Mascarenhas

Tiles

“Aresta re-viva” is a project where craft meets technology. Inspired by forces occurring in nature, specifically attraction. Using parametric design based on an islamic pattern division, we generated a series of interconnectable tri-hexagonal grid patterns that algorithm rescaled through forces of attractor points, they fit the geometry of tiles and are easily adaptable depending on space needs. The pattern’s phenomena of evolution to and from the attractor points leads to versatile options in the growth and contraction of the overall composition. To improve and speed up the process of production we used 3D printing technology to transmit the pattern into the clay, using new technologies and traditional processes hand-in-hand.

HEXADROM

Designed by Brunno Jahara
Handmade by Rui & Maria Mascarenhas

Mirror with tiles

A unique handmade tile mirror frame with a new take on shapes and colors that can be specifically composed depending on its destined space. The design is based on giving special value to traditional pieces by transforming their use, memorializing their unique differences in the handmade process and supporting the continuity of the family run atelier of Aresta Viva in Faro.

COPPER PIECES

ATRAVES

Designed by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Handmade by Analide do Carmo & welded by José Luis

Copper door handle

“Atraves” is a door handle made of copper with self cleaning properties. According to ancient texts, the Egyptians used copper to clean wounds as early as 2400 B.C.; two millennia later copper has a newfound scientific interest due to its antimicrobial properties.
Combining craftsmanship in Loulé with relevant issues gives birth to formal and inspired solutions that can bring the past and present worlds together.

“Atraves’s” round shaped handle is reminiscent of the traditional Cataplana from Algarve, it is comfortable to grasp while safely letting you through.

PSYLO

Designed by Brunno Jahara
Handmade by Analide do Carmo

Copper hooks

A lovely family of handmade copper hooks that resemble mushrooms growing out of the wall in a beautiful arrangement. These hooks come in a variety of sizes with several functions, to hold hats, keys, coats, accessories and light objects. Each mushroom is hand hammered in slightly whimsical forms.

Organized by

Passa Ao Futuro

hosted by

Loulé Criativo

With the support of

República Portuguesa - Cultura / Direção Geral das Artes

Município de Loulé