A three-dimensional designer distinguished by an attention to materials, ideas and place-making, best known for a series of spectacular one-off projects: his "sitooteries" (summerhouses) with hairy surfaces & a surreal window display that erupted from the facade of Harvey Nichols, called ‘Autumn Intrusion’. Currently working on a Buddhist temple in Japan, the world’s first bridge made entirely of glass, and the tallest sculpture in the UK, ‘B of the bang’ in Manchester.

‘When you think of blown glass you automatically think of fine vases, bowls or vessels. As novices to the world of high glass blowing craftsmanship how could we compete with the amazing pieces that already exist? Rather than go down this route we thought we would try to use the material and craftsmanship to do something it doesn’t normally do. Could blown glass become structural? Could it be used to make furniture? The expertise for making these items lies in the blowing. The factory has been making hand blown glass elements for many years, but had never tried making blown glass furniture before. It meant pushing the limits of the factory and the material. Being able to watch and direct the way huge pieces of glass were being blown in the factory to create something new was thrilling.

Our chair is made using three huge clear blown glass bubbles, bonded together to form a structured base, seat and chair back. The table is formed of two blown glass elements bonded to each other.’