British designer Thomas Heatherwick has created a collection of sculptural bottles including some with an integrated “terrarium of sorts” as part of a glassware collection for gin brand Bombay Sapphire.
Unveiled today, the limited-edition set described as “the first ownable Thomas Heatherwick piece of its kind” includes one of three gin and tonic glasses and a standard-sized gin bottle.
The designer also created two larger, more sculptural designs with an hourglass shape that will be displayed at Bombay Sapphire’s distillery and in selected bars throughout Europe.
The collaboration marks 10 years since Heatherwick Studio completed the Bombay Sapphire distillery at Laverstoke Mill, which involved renovating the existing buildings and the addition of two glasshouses.
“We transformed the remains of an old paper mill into a distillery that places nature at its core,” said Heatherwick.
“Two remarkable glasshouses were constructed to harness waste heat from the distillation process, cultivating the botanical plant species that give gin its unique flavour.”
“The inspiration for the distillery glasshouses came from historical glasshouses like the ones created by Victorians who grew plants in special terrariums,” Heatherwick told Dezeen. “A decade later, the bottle has a connection to the distillery glasshouse.”
Finished in the same blue hue characteristic of Bombay Sapphire bottles, the glasses and larger bottles in Heatherwick’s collection are distinguished by pleated detailing and a sculptural hourglass shape.
“Pleating the bottle and giving it a pinched ‘waist’ gives it lovely, generous curved surfaces which feels like a connection to the Hampshire project,” said Heatherwick.
One of Heatherwick’s key aims was to find a way to incorporate nature into the bottle design, which he explained is a common goal throughout his wider design projects.
The largest bottles, produced in a limited edition of 10, will each hold a different botanical found in Bombay Sapphire gin.
“The bottom of the new bottle forms a terrarium of sorts and is a way of integrating nature into the design,” he said. “It holds one of the types of botanicals used to infuse the gin.”
The pieces derive their sculptural quality from the hand-blowing process, Heatherwick explained.
“Blown glass is a very special material that resonates with people,” he stated.
“For the glasshouses at the distillery, we worked with engineers who managed to realise these very voluptuous, complex shapes that were that were pieces of very advanced manufacturing and craft.”
“For the new bottle, the craft involved has been incredible, using electric kilns powered by renewable energy,” he added. “Craftsmanship has been essential from the distillery all the way through to our latest collaboration”.
The ten terrarium bottles are set to be housed at Bombay Sapphire’s Hampshire distillery, while the smaller cinched models will be displayed at a selection of bars throughout Europe from 2025.
Other bottle designs recently featured on Dezeen include Mortlach whiskey bottles covered in metallic “brain” cases by Philippe Starck and the “world’s lightest whisky bottle” from Johnnie Walker.
The photography is by Raquel Diniz and Laura Knox.
