Tap
Water
Carafe

The Tap Water Carafe is a traditionally manufactured water carafe designed to promote the use of tap water.

Dutch tap water is top quality drinking water and it is 2000 times cheaper than bottled water. Even more important: it does not require environmentally polluting plastic bottles or transport.

The Tap Water Carafe can cool water without using a refrigerator. The shapes of the carafes are inspired by the origin of Dutch tap water and the stop of the carafe clearly refers to the place where the contents are drained: from the tap, of course!

Looking for larger quantities or to use this product in a project? Ask for a free quotation here. On our download page, you can find 3d models, high-res images, and other product information.

Variations

The Tap Water Carafe is available in terracotta color in surface water, dune water and ground water variants.

The glass variant is made of borosilicate glass (laboratory glass) and is available in the dune water variant.

The off-white (pure stoneware) is currently sold out and only available in larger quantities upon request.

How does it work?

Because the ceramic of the Tap Water Carafe is not completely waterproof, a small part of the water content filters through the pores of the clay and evaporates as soon as it comes into contact with the outside environment. The evaporation process (the transition from liquid to gas) absorbs heat and thus cools the carafe and its contents. This fascinating, centuries-old process used to be widely used (especially in the Middle East) to keep water cool.

Obviously, this does not apply to the glass version.

Note: the carafe will leak water through the soil, which is normal and part of the natural evaporation process. Do not place the water carafe on a surface that is not resistant to water stains. Use a coaster, for example.

the Vij5
steps
of the
Tap Water Carafe

Transparency of the production chain comes naturally to us.

For us, that doesn't just mean giving information about where something has been produced. Our chain starts much earlier: with the designer of the product!

We'll tell you the whole story. Click on the buttons to discover the different steps:

The Tap Water Carafe is designed by Lotte de Raadt. Lotte has a studio and ceramics workshop in Eindhoven, where she designs and produces her own products. She strives to raise public awareness of problems related to the use of water.

With her traditionally manufactured Tap Water Carafe, Lotte wants to promote the use of tap water. She originally designed the carafe as her graduation work in 2010, but the theme is still relevant today.

The shapes of the carafes are inspired by the origin of Dutch tap water. The high bottle with a long neck refers to water deep from the ground. The low, bulky bottle is the ideal shape for collecting surface water. The third can be filled with dune water.

TIP: Take a peek into Lotte's studio: read the Designer Interview on our blog page!

Lotte de Raadt

"My work is a personal reflection on the interaction between people and water in its different forms and states. My designs are intended to emphasize the beauty of water and thereby stimulate a more conscious use of this precious natural resource".

Lotte de Raadt

Map showing the various water companies in the Netherlands. The 'dune water', 'groundwater' and 'surface water' variants of the carafe symbolise the different places where the water is extracted.

The Tap Water Carafe has been part of the Vij5 collection since 2017. In addition to the fact that this carafe has an important message to tell, which we are happy to support, the choice of materials and design language of this product also appealed to us directly. Lotte's designs emphasize the beauty of water and therefore stimulate a more conscious use of this precious natural resource. The Tap Water Carafe is perhaps her most self-explanatory design, born from this theme.

"A special edition of the Tap Water Carafe is showing off in our windowsill. We bought this light blue version from Lotte at one of her sample sales."

Arjan & Anieke

For this product, of course, the manufacturing process had already been developed by Lotte and we didn't have to look for a suitable producer either. Lotte herself completely fine-tuned the design language of the product, and in 2020 we also launched a limited edition white version of the carafe. Lotte originally designed the carafe in glass, and this version is also currently available at Vij5 !

The Tap Water Carafe is made by Lotte herself in small series in her studio in Eindhoven. For this she uses the material stoneware. The liquid clay is poured into plaster moulds and baked in a ceramic kiln. The carafe is not glazed, so the material remains porous and is therefore suitable for cooling water.

In the diagram to the right, you can find the origin of all parts.

Would you like to see this product in real life ?

Come to our showroom in Eindhoven or visit one of our ambassadors or other points of sale.

In need of larger numbers or application in a project?

Please contact Arjan and request a quotation here.

Vij5 webshop

All Vij5 products can of course also be ordered directly from our own webshop:

Vij5
Showroom

You can visit our studio and workshop to see, feel, and experience our products in person! We operate from a distinctive industrial building on the Hallenweg in Eindhoven. Most of our products are on display here, but currently, the showroom is being used for another major project. So, please get in touch and let us know what you'd like to see, and we'll make it work!

You can make an appointment for this by mail or phone.

Exact location on Google Maps 

Ambassadors

A Vij5 Ambassador is, just like us, a big fan of the Vij5 collection. It is not just a point of sale, but a shop that knows just a little bit more about our products. There is always someone present as a point of contact who can tell you everything about the Vij5 collection!

Vij5 Ambassadors are specialists in e.g. our lighting, furniture and/or accessories and will gladly provide you with advice. There is a nice selection of products from our collection in the shop. When an item is not in stock in the store an Ambassador can always order it for you.

Points of sale