Metal in Flux. From Casting to Mould

The Kunstgießerei Lauchhammer, founded in 1725, is one of the oldest foundries in Germany. In a cooperation project led by Prof. Hermann Weizenegger, it was able to introduce students from the Design Department to the production process with the difficult material iron and introduce them to the art of iron casting. The project was funded by the Brandenburg Innovation Voucher (BIG) for 5,000 euros.

Within the project, Prof. Hermann Weizenegger and students explored design processes in art casting, the combination of design and the use of existing cultural, scientific, technical, economic knowledge and skills. As part of Design Lab #12, the research was supported by the Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin. Inspired by the historical iron castings of the Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin, new designs were created, these were cast by the Kunstgießerei Lauchhammer and the Kunstgießerei Altglienicke. The project was accompanied by the design curator Dr Claudia Bank and the metal restorer Wibke Bornkessel and in terms of content.

The objects were on display at the Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin in the exhibition "Metal in Flux. Vom Guss zur Form" ("From Casting to Form "), where they were juxtaposed with the historical objects of inspiration. The exhibition ran from 28/09/2022 to 20/11/2022 and was very well received.