In the early stages of aluminium production, factories cast molten aluminium into massive blocks weighing in at over 26 tonnes. These blocks are clad with undulating, organic textures that are a result of the casting process. In the preparation of the blocks to be sent to other factories, the sides are cut off, leaving behind thin rough plates known as 'crusts'.

Studio ThusThat, in a continuation of their exploration of industrial narratives, use these crusts to create the first of an ongoing series of interior objects –– a mirror, a shelf, and a table –– that reflect the unexpectedly raw backstory to an everyday material. The edges are jagged and roughly cut, resulting in rugged forms that seem to have been themselves byproducts of some industrial mechanisms, contrasted by a polished finish. The backside of the plates still show traces of the giant saws of the factories from which they were cut. The pieces are designed to be easily disassembled and packed flat.

Studio ThusThat, led by Kevin Rouff and Paco Böckelmann, have previously worked with mining and metallurgy wastes, including red mud, the waste of producing aluminium from its mined ore. The mirrors, shelf and tables are especially designed for Transnatural. Please contact us for bespoke Crust design projects as well.

Mirror: H 650 mm x L 650 mm x D10 mm
Materials: Aluminium off-cuts, glass/silver