Originally designed in marble in the 1970s, this piece by Daciano da Costa is now being reissued in cork, in an exercise that preserves the original design while reinterpreting it in light of contemporary concerns with sustainability and the use of natural materials. The set, composed of two bowls of complementary dimensions, results from a technical collaboration with Amorim Cork Solutions, which ensures the faithful translation of the original project into the new material.
Daciano da Costa began working in design in the 1950s, in a country that still lacked structured design education and was strongly influenced by a conservative political context. His career, spanning architecture and the so-called “decorative arts,” contributed to establishing a modern and functional practice, characterized by attention to use and formal clarity.
A proponent of the idea that “form is always a social, interactive, and emotional construction,” he saw design as a direct reflection of the conditions and lifestyles of each era. The choice of cork in this reissue continues that thinking: just as marble reflected the material and cultural values of the time when the piece was created, cork today expresses environmental awareness and a closer connection to the Portuguese landscape and economy.
This reinterpretation of the work reaffirms the importance of Portuguese design as an expression of identity and cultural continuity. By revisiting Daciano da Costa’s original work, this edition keeps his legacy alive and demonstrates how design can simultaneously preserve memory and respond to the challenges of the present.
