Refillable
Candles
Celebrating
15 years
of Vij5
Since Vij5 is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2021, we invited all the Designers we collaborate with—as part of the Vij5 collection—to Design a “refillable candle” ahead of DDW. An overview of their unique Design was on display during DDW 2021 in the Vij5 showroom.
The “ Designers ” were given carte blanche, allowing their distinct styles to shine through in the final product. As a result, the exhibition showcased a wide range of personal interpretations while also forming an interesting cohesive whole, much like the “ Vij5 ” collection.
Refillable candle
A 'refillable candle' is a shape/container that can be easily (re)filled with liquid candle wax to form a candle. The intention is that after the candle has burned up, the user can buy a refill set via our webshop and refill the container himself.
Rapeseed wash
For this project, we are working with rapeseed wax: a local, safe and easy-to-process product as a sustainable alternative to paraffin candles. Another advantage of rapeseed wax is that it has a relatively low melting point, which makes the container easy to clean with hot water and soap or in the dishwasher (if the material of the container allows it).
Below is an overview of the various Design that were on display during DDW at the Vij5 showroom. These ranged from prototypes to small production runs, depending on the resources available to us prior to DDW. Following DDW, we plan to produce a small batch of most Design so that the candles can be purchased at our webshop . A selection of all submissions may become a permanent part of the Vij5 collection.
David Derksen – Architecture Table
David Derksen made his refillable candle part of his 'Table Architecture' project in which he plays with the abstraction of scale. The designs represent architectural elements for the table that together form an abstract cityscape. Of course, they are also stand-alone objects that refer to buildings. His design consists of a ceramic base and a perforated aluminium cylinder that stands loose on the base.
Atelier LVDW – Melt
Atelier LVDW conducted research into the possibilities of translucent plaster. The density of plaster normally prevents it from allowing light to by pass through, but Atelier LVDW discovered that by adding coconut oil alters the physical properties of the original material. The material expands slightly, creating a larger volume. The coconut oil is trapped within the plaster and, when heated, produces a unique translucency and a pleasant scent. This experiment was applied in the “Refillable” Candle as four tiles that fuse together and are bound by a plaster base.
Studio Pesi – GLORIA
Studio Pesi's aim was to create a refillable candle from a pure material, which needs little finishing and uses a simple production process. The shape of the candle holder immediately shows how it is made: two shapes are laser-cut opposite each other from a steel tube. This production technique makes efficient use of the material, is quick, and is suitable for both small and large production runs. The screen at the back, which gives a unique silhouette to the container, reflects the light of the flame and creates a warm atmosphere.
Antje Pesel – Refillable Candle Handle
Antje Pesel created a handle for the refillable candle, inspired by old, classic candlesticks and lanterns. With this handle, the candle can be easily mounted on the wall. In doing so, Antje gives the candle a special and clearly defined place, different from its more predictable spot on the table. The design of both the glass and the handle is very minimalistic and stems from this function. by Thanks to its symmetry, the handle can be used in two directions, allowing the product to be adapted to different spaces.
Daphna Laurens – 15Y5
Daphna Laurens strives to bring form and function together. They care deeply about aesthetics but also want their design objects to be useful. Their design for the Refillable Candle is a perfect example of this design methodology. Two functional features formed the basis of the design for the candle holderby : by allowing the wax container to float, the heat from the candle won’t damage the tabletop. The structure needed to raise the container also prevents the flame from being blown out by by wind or drafts.
Maarten Baptist
Maarten Baptist collaborated with a glassblower from Eindhoven to create a number of candleholders made of borosilicate glass. For his design, he started with three different sizes of laboratory tubes, which serve as the standard basis for any shape made of borosilicate glass. Instead of blowing the glass into a specific shape, Maarten decided to make a number of “cuts” in the tubes and then bend these sections outward, creating striking handles. This gives the holder a unique architectural form that enters into a dialogue with the candle.
Thier & van Daalen Studio – Ripple
Studio Thier & van Daalen uses the flame of a candle to create a beautiful flicker and light effect, in combination with the right choice of material. As a basis, they chose a laboratory glass profile tube, inspired by a ripple of water. From the tube, a minimalist glass is made as a container for the candle. This container is attached to a metal holder with small magnets. According to Studio Thier & van Daalen, the final product should be clear and simple, inviting to use and refill! (The image shows a 3d printed prototype, a glass version is coming soon!)
KellerFreyschmidt - Raaklijn (Tangent)
KellerFreyschmidt used glass as a base material to observe the light from the candle and the gradually melting wax. The transparency of glass also allows for the interplay of light between colours, reflections, and shadows. The dome-shaped containers are made of borosilicate glass and appear to balance visually on a glass platform, which was handcrafted by to melt glass into round shapes. Because two different types of glass are combined here, the elements cannot be fused together; instead, they are bonded using a UV-resistant glass adhesive that is invisible, extremely strong, and commonly used in the fabrication of glass products.
Koen Devos
Koen Devos He chose a shallow mold as his starting point, because he disliked deep molds filled with candle wax. If a candle burns for several evenings in a row, it often becomes covered in stains, and over time, it can also be difficult to relight such a deep mold. Instead, he prefers to fill several shallow containers at once that can be stacked on top of one another. This way, each container can burn for about 3 to 5 hours, and you have a beautiful candle every evening! The stacking effect is also visible in the design: as the candle burns, the internal steps gradually become visible.
Jeroen Wand
Studio Jeroen Wand has created its own interpretation of the classic three-armed candle holder. The compartments were cast in a mold and then dried. These forms were subsequently submerged in New ’s mixed plaster. During submersion, the New ’s mixed and still-liquid plaster adheres to the base form. The three compartments, each holding 100 ml, were joined together after submersion, causing them to “fuse” into a single candle holder. by Through a combination of control and allowing the plaster to react freely, the material forms its own unique shape.
Jenna Postma – Align
Jenna Postma’s handmade porcelain container is inspired by a Japanese stamping technique, in which recesses are filled with a different colour clay. The lid allows you to neatly store your box of matches or lighter. by Combining the candle and the lid creates an interplay of graphic lines. There are various ways to arrange the set and play with the lines. Turn them upside down, place the lines perpendicular to each other, or let them run by . Play with the position of the parts to give your candle both a sleek and playful look.
Lotte de Raadt & Sara Vignoli
Lotte and Sara experimented with a very old decorative technique normally used on fabric and known as “Batik,” by to hand-paint porcelain cups with rapeseed wax. A wax pattern is applied to the porcelain, followed by by an additional layer of color made from natural iron slurry (oer). After firing at a high temperature, the wax disappears and the pattern is fixed to the surface. The patterns are inspired by the pale yellow flowers of the rapeseed plant—which need plenty of sun to thrive—and by the pods of the rapeseed plant that contain the seeds. The wax from the candle is produced from the very same seeds that give life to the plant.
