With the help of 3D printing technology, designer Libero Rutilo of DesignLibero has reimagined recycling as an art form. He’s designed mesh-like sculptural shells that are intended to be placed on top of half-liter plastic bottles, making modern vases from what might have been tossed in the trash.
Rutilo’s innovative line of vases include four designs: the spider vase, sinuous vase, lace vase, and knitted vase. Each one has a slightly different look, from the classically-inspired to the futuristic and geometric. However, they all share one similarity in design–an inner neck fillet, which allows them to be screwed onto a PET bottle like a bottle cap. Aside from design, each vase serves as an artistic solution to avoid discarding hazardous plastics.
The design firm states: “Of course, you will not clean the planet by recycling just one bottle, but if you have a chance to reuse one and turn it into a design object, it can be a first step towards environmentally friendly lifestyle.” These imaginative vessels represent one small but powerful step towards more environmental sustainability–and one big step towards more inventive design.
These decorative vases can be purchased as digital design files (LEO) that can be produced from any 3D printer; or, Rutilo has pre-produced models available to be delivered in their fully fabricated forms. For more information, check out DesignLibero’s website.
Spider Vase
Lace Vase
Knitted Vase
Sinuous Vase
Design Libero: Website | Facebook
via [Contemporist]
Images via Claudio Morelli.