Material Research
Innovative process

Research

Mould machine is a research project that explores the potential benefits of fire-resistant or refractory materials, when producing moulds for glass casting. The development was in collaboration with the Swiss avant-garde glass-maker Matteo Gonet.

The research process was based on a series of iterative tests and evaluations, where both the successes and failures of experiments were positive outcomes. The moulds were designed and handmade by us and tested in Matteo Gonet’s glass workshop.

Conclusions

Following initial explorations of moulding materials and processes and learning from the outcomes, new refinements helped to further the path of investigation towards sophisticated and repeatable results. After pushing, stretching and exploring the possibility of the material, we were able to create repeatable, rapid, low cost, and innovative ways to mould-form glass.

The project was part of “Heart of Glass”, Ecal's research program with glass. The results were exhibited at ELAC gallery in 2015 and during Brooklyn’s WantedDesign in 2016.

Glass + Stainless mesh

Glass + Insulation fiber plates

Glass + Copper