nendo has collaborated with WonderGlass to present Shape of Gravity, a glass furniture exhibition during Milan Design Week. The exhibition features Melt, a standout collection comprised of cast glass furniture and tabletop accessories. Melt has already been unveiled as a collection, but for this exhibition, the two brands launched a gravity formed cast glass chandelier to complete the grouping. The pieces exude icy simplicity and looked nothing short of majestic in the rather dark exhibition space, where they were neatly displayed on a long stage and softly lit from below.

In this case, the material (glass) directed the design process, as nendo and the WonderGlass craftsmen used a unique method to create the collection. Laying hot glass over steel frames and suspending it between metal bars allowed the glass to drape into its form. This process resulted in the visually stunning, simple pieces in Melt.

A look at the process behind Melt

After visiting the Wonderglass workshops, nendo founder Oki Sato said he, " was inspired by looking at the artisans coordinating their moves around the melted material. The main idea is to accept the flow of gravity and use the weight of glass to design itself. In a way, doing less and achieving more is the most complicated thing to do."

While glass furniture may not be the most practical addition to your living room, Melt is a lesson in allowing materials to speak for themselves.

Shape of Gravity will be at Salone del Mobile at Istituto dei Ciechi, Milan until this Sunday, April 14th.