Martín Azua immerses us once again in nature with his design Wellspring

Ceramic jugs that recreate the natural lifecycle of water.

Spanish designer Martín Azua invites us to re-establish our relationship with the natural environment with his latest design, Wellspring, which he showcased at the exhibition Biomimesis: Design Inspired by Nature at Barcelona’s Galeria Roca last May.

Wellspring comprises ceramic jugs filled with earth, stones and plants, which recreate an ecosystem that restores water’s natural equilibrium. Via planters and ceramic vessels, Azua has created a system that recalls the lifecycle of water in nature. With Wellspring, when we water the plants in its planter, the surplus water is filtered and purified in the container’s porous ceramic surface, then drips into another, imporous vessel beneath. The water in the latter is then reused to water the plants. In this way, the continuous cycle of its ecosystem is maintained without any loss of water, as happens in nature. 

With Wellspring, Azua continues his investigation into the relationship between design and the natural environment, which he initiated in 1999 with his project called Natural Finish. This saw him leave highly porous ceramic jugs on a river bed so that, over time, they acquired a natural stain created by moss and lichen, providing proof of nature’s ability to adapt to and colonise artificial objects. With Wellspring, Azua incorporates natural processes into everyday objects, making these objects come to life.

The product will be sold at a new e-commerce site which the studio will launch after the summer.