KARAK
-K A R A K-
A group of designers, artists and architects blending the traditional hand claying Japanese technique of Raku and innovative digital design.. Raku means “enjoyment”, “comfort”. And is derived from the Jurakudai palace in Kyoto. It is used for Japanese pottery. Karak use this technique to give the final and unique finish to their tiles.
Throughout the years westerners have adopted this technique, keeping the firing process, heating the pottery at high temperatures and cooling it quickly. As well, the young team of tile manufacturing based in Vorarlberg, Austria, well known for being an area that produce high quality products, participated in the 2016 Vienna Biennale.
What makes this company different from the others is their customized designs based on people’s emotions providing a unique feeling of belonging to their clients. They provide designed tiles such as:
KuQua-One
KuQua-Grid
KuQua-Hex
KuQua-Flip
VeSta
KuRo
SaKra
TaOk
ZeichenNetz
One of their most significative designs is the ZeichenNetz, the concept is the reflection of all the heterogeneous culture in Allenmos School. The project consists in the children's drawings, creating a customized and unique space.
Photographs by: http://karak.at/en/designs/?jump=design_section
Dimensions 330 x 330mm, depth: 25mm, Year: 2012
Another innovative design is the TaOk, which provides an elegant, private sensation. It is a three-dimensional pattern on a two-dimensional surface which is the basis of their earlier raku tiles. It is perfect to use as cladding, or partition. It is the result of using the elements of earth, fire and air, the process consists in to mix the different clays and loam with quartz sand and fireclay on the workshop. Later on, the mass is reshaped by hand, then the materials acquires a form and the glaze impresses rhythmical symbols in the tiles. Subsequent, the tiles are quickly hardened on an oven at 1000°C, through it the material becomes porous.
Photography by: http://karak.at/en/
Dimensions: 250 x 250 mm, depth: 40mm, year 2010
Nevertheless, besides offering cladding and partitions walls, these tiles can be used as well as furniture elements. The following pictures are from the Karak, tiles at the Vienna Design Week, 2016.
Photography by: http://www.domusweb.it/en/news/2016/10/07/karak_vienna_design_week_2016.html
V e S t a
Photography by: http://karak.at/en/designs/?jump=design_section
This is an indoor and outdoor option, with it you can perceive cozy and elegant finishes, this tile is as well done with the usage of the earth, fire and air elements.
Sources:
http://karak.at/en/
http://www.domusweb.it/en/news/2016/10/07/karak_vienna_design_week_2016.html
http://www.100percentdesign.co.uk/exhibitors/karak-tiles
https://www.pinterest.com/w0tu/karak-tiles/
