I’m stood on a wet and windswept railway platform heading to a very special design event, the launch of Iittala’s new Kuru collection. Adding to my excitement is the fact that I’m going to a talk with the designer, the amazing Philip Malouin, to find out all about how this striking collaboration came about.
But the next thing I know everyone around me starts to grumble, and I suddenly realise with just minutes before our departure, all trains from Liverpool to London have just been cancelled.
So, after consoling myself with caffeine and explaining to my now super happy four-year-old that Mummy will now be home this evening, I’m determined not to miss out and do what any design lover would do; I tune in to Instagram Live to watch the event I should have been at.
A balance of sculpture and function
Three years in the making, the Kuru collection perfectly balances sculpture and function. Meaning ‘gorge’ in Finnish, this series of eight bowls and vases may be small, but it has a mighty personality.
As you would expect from Iittala the geometric pieces are expertly created from pressed glass, mouth-blown glass and casted handmade ceramic and have been produced in the softest tones of grey, green, orange and off-white.
Looking beautiful in their own right, they truly come to life when in use, which is just as the designer intended. Referring to the French word ‘vide-poche’, a bowl kept near the front door where you can empty your pockets when coming home, Kuru pieces serve that exact purpose.
“I wanted to design a collection that helps people create centres of gravity in their homes and provide a place for precious objects and memories, regardless of the size of their living space.” explains Philippe Malouin.
Perfect for organising everyday items like keys, half-read books and jewellery, Kuru bowls allow you to show off otherwise hidden away and much-loved personal items in an interesting way.
How we live today
With the Kuru collection, Iittala and Philippe Malouin have created a series of products that truly reflect how we live our lives today. Just like our homes, sometimes real life is messy, disorganised and certainly doesn’t go the way you expect, but nevertheless memories are made that will stay with us forever.
To find out more about the Kuru collection, visit the Iittala website.
Iittala’s Raami collection by Jasper Morrison is already a favourite of mine, so I’m very much looking forward to seeing what further collaborations are to come.
All images courtesy of Iittala.
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