Outstanding design and its makers: “TULIP Feuerring”
Once a year, the jury of the Red Dot Award: Product Design awards objects of high design quality. In 2016, only 1.5 percent of the entries received the highest distinction “Red Dot: Best of the Best”. It goes to the best products of a category, like the “TULIP Feuerring”.
In many cultures, sitting at an open fire is still synonymous with an atmosphere that promotes convi-viality. The TULIP Feuerring presents itself as a fascinating reinterpretation of an archaic fireplace. It is made of untreated steel in the shape of a bowl with an inner ring that serves as a grill. Adopting the appearance of a sculpture, it exudes both sturdiness and a sense of tranquillity. The outer bowl is cold-formed and allowed to rust so that it becomes characterised with use over time, developing a particular appearance that further underlines the archaic appeal of the bowl.
Using a special welding technique, the grill ring is connected seamlessly to the bowl. This prevents any deformation due to temperature differences and guarantees perfect heat distribution. The intermediate bottom presents a further innovation. It entails that the fire is always set at a visible level and eliminates the need to wait for the embers to glow. Instead, it ensures slow indirect barbecuing with temperature zones from 150 to 300 degrees, while still allowing users to enjoy the look and warmth of a burning fire. Based on a convincing symbiosis of form and material, the TULIP Feuerring emerged with a design that is functional as well as aesthetically pleasing, and creates a relaxing atmosphere of warmth and sociability.
The statement of the jury
“The design of the TULIP Feuerring takes up the symbolism of archaic fireplaces in a fascinating manner. It impresses with a compact and purist design idiom matched with a high degree of user-friendliness. The TULIP Feuerring is functional, durable and lends itself ideally for use as a grill. It conveys a sense of homely cosiness and possesses a high aesthetic quality that underlines the appeal of its beautiful surfaces”, says the Red Dot jury.
The outstanding design achievement is made by the designer Andreas Reichlin from Feuerring. Red Dot talked to the award-winning maker from Switzerland.
Red Dot: What inspires you?
Andreas Reichlin: Nature, art and genuine people.
Is there a project that you have always dreamed about realising someday?
I already do what I like doing, every day. I translate my needs into art and design.
Why did you become a designer?
I’m a sculptor, a sculptor of steel; I surround myself with things that are beautiful and autonomous. That’s why I look for new solutions.
What are the challenges in your everyday work?
The courage to say no, to go against the trend, to work with passion and therefore to remain genuine.
How do you define design quality?
When function, aesthetics, static equilibrium, materiality and ecology all come together in a single form.
The Red Dot Award: Product Design is in full swing. Until 20 January, participants can still profit from the conditions of the “Regular” registration.
