Pillar

As members of the interdisciplinary group Garnitura, Brina Steblovnik and Maruša Mazej began reworking the material on Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik at the beginning of 2022, going beyond surface-level interpretations. The design of the Pillar ceramics vases draws inspiration from Plečnik’s playful yet respectful approach to local cultural heritage in his architectural practice, where ceramic objects often feature prominently. Plečnik incorporated actual pieces from local potters, as well as stylised forms of vases and vessels executed in concrete or stone. The principles he used to formulate these elements often combined cubes, swirls, and cylindrical forms. For the ceramic line Pillar, we followed his principles of composition building and designed a modular system of composite swirls with cylindrical additions. The Pillar vases consist of two modular shapes, with cylindrical details added in a variety of compositions. Each vase is slip-cast and handmade in Ljubljana, Slovenia, a city of Plečnik’s architectural heritage that became part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2021.