NATURE SQUARED UNVEILS NEW TROPHIES FOR BOAT INTERNATIONAL’S INAUGURAL BOAT ARTISTRY & CRAFT AWARDS, AND THE FIFTH ARCHISOURCE DRAWING OF THE YEAR AWARDS
CUSTOM DESIGN TROPHIES MADE OF SUSTAINABLY SOURCED WASTE MATERIALS HONOUR CRAFTS AND CREATIVITY
BOAT INTERNATIONAL’S BOAT ARTISTRY & CRAFT AWARDS 2024
Creating the trophies for the inaugural year of the Boat Artistry & Craft Awards
Nature Squared was commissioned to design and make two special trophies celebrating boat craftsmanship and emerging artisans, to be presented at the Superyacht Design Festival (28-30 January 2024) in Kitzbühel, Austria. Inspired by the natural phenomenon of a vortex, these elegant, sculptures recognise exceptional workmanship through the innovative transformation of natural waste materials using heritage craft techniques.
two awards, two trophies
Inspired by the brief to design and make two awards celebrating ‘Excellence in Craftsmanship’ and ‘Emerging Artisan of The Year’, Nature Squared has created dynamic, swirling forms that evoke the natural spiral created when fluid or air is drawn into the centre and then twists upward and outward into a vortex, reflecting the convergence of human craftsmanship, the power of nature, and the art of sailing. The spiral represents the continuous movement and flow of energy, the constant interaction between these elements, and the harmony achieved when they come together.
Sustainable and natural materials
The trophies combine a range of natural shells known for their rich colours but which, as by-products of fishing and pearl farming, are usually discarded as waste. These iridescent subtle pink brown lip and inky-hued rainbow pearl oyster shells are combined with copper and sustainably sourced, and their transformation into new forms secures the livelihood of local farmers, fishermen and artisans.
NATURE SQUARED CO-FOUNDER, LAY KOON TAN, APPOINTED A BOAT ARTISAN & CRAFT AWARD JURY MEMBER
Lay Koon Tan joins a select panel of four judges chaired by BOAT’s Creative Director Christopher Whale, who review and nominate the winners.
ARCHISOURCE X NATURE SQUARED 2024 AWARDS DESIGN COLLABORATION
ARCHISOURCE X NATURE SQUARED
2024 AWARDS DESIGN COLLABORATION
The trophies for the fifth edition of The Drawing of the Year Awards have been designed in collaboration with Archisource and Swiss-based ethical design brand Nature Squared. Trophies are presented to the winners of each category, along with smaller commendations for standout works. The trophies for the Drawing of the Year Awards will be revealed in February 2024.
Inspired by architecture & Nature
The striking sculptural forms originate from the exploration of natural fractures, contrasts in nature, and harmony of architectural forms. The trophies were designed to be a pair with the form being derived from extrusions of natural fracture typologies. The underpinning idea was to explore how fractured objects reveal inner beauties within nature, whilst also showcasing Nature Squared’s artisan craft and the abilities of inlaid natural finishes to create dynamic and captivating applications.
Designed to be split and reveal unique inner surfaces like those found in nature, the pair of trophies cast from waste eggshells join perfectly as one to create a seemingly solid form. Upon separation, the iridescent double curved surfaces are revealed which have been inlaid with waste dark pen seashell.
MAterials and Process
The Drawing of the Year trophies are made of waste eggshell responsibly sourced from local commercial kitchens, and waste dark pen shell discarded by subsistence fishing communities in the Philippines. Nature Squared’s commitment to the environment extends well beyond recycling and upcycling to include every stage of sourcing, design, and making. The eggshell is first cleaned, and then crushed and dyed using natural indigo, before being hand moulded into the sculptural form and baked. The dark pen shell is cleaned and cut into fine veneers to maximise its natural tactile and iridescent surface, before being inlaid by hand into the organically shaped inner surface.
