Take advantage of this moment as we embark on a new foray into the world of glass. Consider entrusting Atelier NL to craft a 'ZandGlas' specially for you. Make the production of this unique glassware possible by subscribing before the end of August to obtain one or more of the first autographed prototypes.
'ZandGlas' from the Zandmotor consists of a carafe (€ 295), a large drinking bowl (€ 115), a medium-sized glass (€ 95), and a small glass (€ 85).
The entire set is now available for € 560. All objects are marked with a glass stamp indicating the origin of the sand.

 

After intensive research and experimentation, designers Nadine Sterk and Lonny Ryswyck of Atelier NL managed to melt local 'wild' sand dug from the Zandmotor, into unique objects of glass.
The collection is called 'ZandGlas'. Each piece is made from fused sand, forming a magnificent set composed of a carafe and three drinking glasses of varying size. These are tangible objects made from sand. They are beautifully crafted and tell a stunning narrative about the origins of the Netherlands and the sea, currents, winds, rivers, time and mankind.



These are the very first glass products from a series Atelier NL will create out of sand from the dunes, beaches, rivers, deserts, mountains and sandpits.

Atelier NL used the sand from the Zandmotor at the invitation of artist collective Satellietgroep and in collaboration with our network of scientists. For the manufacture of the limited edition, the designers worked together with Gert Bullée, top glassblower in the Netherlands. At high temperatures, the wild sands of the Zandmotor melt and eventually transform into characteristic, pale green glass. Sleek and elegant design in a sophisticated colour, and with charming imperfections that make each object unique.



About the Zandmotor
A key location for their excavation and analysis experiments is the Zandmotor, a pilot near Kijkduin (The Hague)  that uses the principles of 'Building with Nature', an initiative of the provincie Zuid-Holland and Rijkswaterstaat. In cooperation with our network of scientists, the designers learned the story behind the new coastal landscape. Zandmotor was built in 2011 mainly Pleistocene sands of the North Sea-bed, from the time when mammoths walked around on this location. The innovative project aims to generate new knowledge in times of climate change and sea level rise for our future coastal protection. A special note: Zandmotor is the only area outside the dike exposed to the tides that is built to change and even assimilate around 2030 in sea, beach and dunes. More: www.dezandmotor.nl

About Atelier NL
Atelier NL makes products that showcase the riches of the earth and the value of local raw materials. Each material yields a different product and tells a different story. One example is the successful 'Clay Service', which Atelier NL will soon produce in-house.
The glass industry uses only pure white sands which can only be found in a small number of sand quarries worldwide. In order to challenge the conventions of the contemporary conservative glass industry, since 2010 Atelier NL has been collecting wild sands from dunes, beaches and sandpits in various places all over Europe – thus experiment constantly with this natural material, including studying geological time, particle size, chemical composition, microscopic imaging and related considerations. Their project 'SandBank' reveals the potential of local, wild sands. The designers followed the path of ancient Roman glass traders, took samples of eighty sands, mapped and classified them, created special sand boxes and carried out over a thousand tests. Sands from different locations provide varied results because of their wide mix of minerals and other components that adhere to the grains, yielding various colors and textures.
The research and development are time-consuming, but essential for the designers to show the potential and value of raw materials. The designers specialize translating information through the visualization of data and material experiments. Atelier NL took upon the task of revealing sand's full richness of distinctive elements. The purpose of SandBank is to produce local glass and to encourage scientists and the industry to explore atypical useful and durable applications. More: www.ateliernl.com


Collector's Box - Zandmotor

Special thanks to Bert van der Valk (geologist), Iris Pit (PhD candidate STW-NatureCoast), Gert Bulée (glass blower), Rob Singels (Philips GSP), Ad Waterschoot, Frans van Dommelen (glass instrument makers) and all other participants who make this project possible.