At Milan Design Week 2022, JCP Universe introduced the Coloniae, a series of new artifacts, designed by Italian designer Gionata Gatto. These decorative objects are designed with the motive to highlight the relationship between humans and plants.
Gatto explained, “The project is basically a collection of furniture pieces that are perceived as different habitations for a colony.” The furniture “interacts together by compenetrating each other with each piece being designed to host a different plant species,” he added.
The Coloniae collection comprises a side table and two different types of vases all featuring a unique design created with perforated aluminum sheets. Each item allows plants to grow and take over their form, manipulating the overall appearance. Over time, the plant will begin to interact with the object through its roots and leaves, eventually colonizing it, and defining its name.
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In this way, Coloniae collection rethinks a vase design and adds more value to it by using it as a platform for plants rather than just a simple container. The platform allows plants to grow in a predefined way that adds to the overall design.
Gatto says he is “designing with plants” in the project. The main idea is to let plants entangle the object and give it a whole new appearance with time.
