While working extensively with quartz, I spent almost a year immersed in the manufacturing process. During that time, I became increasingly aware of the extraordinary amount of material discarded every day. Off-cuts from kitchen worktops and bathroom surfaces—often remarkably consistent in size—filled two industrial skips daily.
This observation became the starting point for the design. The mirror's base is crafted from reclaimed Caesarstone quartz, carefully sourced from these discarded off-cuts and transformed into a sculptural object with a renewed purpose. The mirror itself simply slots into the quartz base, allowing it to be effortlessly removed while celebrating the material's inherent weight, beauty, and longevity.
In 2018, I was commissioned by the Marriott Hotels Autograph Collection to design, manufacture, and supply 220 bespoke mirrors for the Bankside Hotel in London. The interior designers selected the M14 mirror, originally designed for kukka in 2015, as the starting point for the project.
The design was carefully re-engineered to meet the hotel's health and safety standards without compromising its original character. Remaining true to its sustainable ethos, each mirror was crafted from reclaimed Caesarstone quartz, transforming discarded industrial off-cuts into refined, enduring objects. The project demonstrates how responsible material choices and meticulous engineering can coexist with contemporary hospitality design.
Credit:
Design: Rona Meyuchas Koblenz
Client: Benjamin West for The Autograph Collection
Interior designers: Powerstripe studio, Dayna Lee & Ted Berner
Photos: Uri Grun, Marlin Kook