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Multi-functional martini, champagne or wine glasses : These pieces formed part of Design Network Africa’s (DNA) Graphic Africa exhibition at Habitat’s Platform gallery during The London Design Festival in September 2013. -
Recycled tinted-window glass is used to make the glasses : The team had to work quickly as Heath chose to use recycled tinted-window glass, which cools and sets faster, making delicate forms impossible. The tint gives the products their grey colour. -
Anselm’s red-brick dome houses : The pair agreed to collaborate on a range of glass designware, which is how Heath’s 12-day trip to Kenya, where Anselm’s red-brick dome houses, his studio and glass foundry, came about. -
Multifunctionality togther with clean and simple shapes are common in local Kenyan design : Heath did not have much time to experience Kenya. However, in search of local design forms, he found clean, simple shapes, many of which fitted together and stacked well, and were multifunctional. -
It all began with a good deal of research : Before he left SA, Heath raided the University of Cape Town’s library and read about 30 books on European glass-blowing and its history “to make sure [they] did something different with [their] tools”. -
Because two are better than one : Heath had met Anselm Croze of Kitengela Hot Glass through DNA, a 36-month business-development programme for 30 design companies initiated by the Danish Centre for Cultural Development under the guidance of Trevyn McGowan of Source. -
Teamwork is essential to the production process : The double-form glasses require solid teamwork for seamÂless joins before the glass cools. Symmetry cannot be achieved from a single blowing. -
The glassblowing furnace used to produce the glasses : The products are made by glassÂblowing, a technique that has not changed since medieval times. The furnace reaches a temperÂature of 1 100°C, when glass takes on a honey texture and the pipe has to be rolled continuously. -
Some of Heath's various experiments : Heath’s experiments had varied results, but each product had to be considered in terms of cost, time, production and marketability, which is how he decided on the drinking glasses.
WORDS Nadine Botha PHOTOS Heath Nash, Anselm Croze
