GROWTH AND FORM
Niki Borowiecki architect
Julian was asked to make something for this beautiful architect-designed contemporary building in London, which is characterized by a wonderful unity between the exterior and interior through the use of natural light, proximity to the natural world and sustainable technology.
Julian was drawn to the staircase atrium, which forms the heart of the house, bringing light down to the basement level; the stair spins off to the various levels (there are 6 levels in all) and affords multiple viewpoints.
‘Growth and Form’ is based on the Fibonacci Sequence, where every number is the sum of the previous two numbers - in this case 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21. The Fibonacci Sequence defines many patterns in nature such as the layout of seeds in sunflowers and pine cones, and the shape of snail shells.
The idea of a growth spiral is also fundamental to pottery thrown on the wheel. Harnessing the centrifugal force of the wheel the potter creates a three-dimensional spiral form, the dimensions of which can alter but the fundamental structure always remains the same.
Eight floating grounds of waxed and polished Venetian plaster support a total of fifty four cups and beakers of varying shape, colour and texture, using different clays, glazed and unglazed.
“I try to read Growth and Form as a piece of music with a number of movements
(or two distinct pieces of music depending whether I’m going up stairs or down stairs). ”
photography Jan Baldwin