Stockholm 2014:Â the delicate glass base of this vase by German designer Hanne Willmann contrasts with a concrete cover that supports the stems of flowers.
The top section of Berlin-based Willmann's vase is balanced on a straight-sided cylindrical glass vessel.
"With the Willmann Vase my ambition was to play with contrasts and the fragility of glass," Willmann told Dezeen. "The concrete is set above the glass, so you can only see the stalk of the flowers."
The lid narrows towards the top to support flowers placed in the vase, and can be removed to make it easier to clean the two parts.
"The shape of the concrete cover was a result of the need to hold a flower bouquet together," explained Willmann. "I also wanted to emphasise the roughness and coldness of the strong concrete with a simple and straight shape. The glass appears even more fragile this way and makes a great contrast."
Willmann used a polyconcrete composite to manufacture the cover. This material combines cement with a polymer binder that provides reinforcement while enabling it to be cast in reduced thicknesses. In the case of the lid, the wall thickness is just five millimetres.
The designer sketched several options for the height and diameter of the two parts and produced prototypes of the shape on a lathe that were used to create a plaster mould.
The vase was presented at the Maison&Objet design fair in Paris last month by Danish design brand, Menu, and is currently on show at the Stockholm Furniture Fair.
Other projects launched in Stockholm include a sofa with giant pins puncturing the seat to create a backrest and a furniture collection based on traditional shipbuilding techniques.