The Wish List Table Ware by Zaha Hadid and Gareth Neal
Updated: Jan 30, 2020
Initiated by the American Hardwood Export Council and Benchmark Furniture, The Wish List brings together a stellar list of architects and designers for a unique collaborative project. Gareth Neal was paired with Zaha Hadid, who’s brief was simple and open: to create some form of tableware made from wood. The project was approached by thinking about the fluid dynamic of Zaha Hadid’s designs. The water carafe idea emerged from considering the liquid nature of her work, but juxtaposing it with a functional element to contain water within.
Having the advantage of using Hadid studio’s advance computer modelling software, Neal pushed the boundaries of digital tools.
Through using the traditional vessel form as a starting point and subverting its appearance to dramatic extremes, mimicking traditional carving technique the aim of Neal was to embed the design with a sense of the handmade through the arm of a robot, questioning the viewer’s perceptions of craft and the handmade.
These pieces were manufactured using CNC machine which in Neal's view is the extension of the craftsman's hands in a digital form.
