Silo/Mill
2023
The project aims to capture the forms of agricultural architecture and the functions these structures are designed for. Grain silos are used for bulk storage, and Windmills traditionally ground grains for further domestic use. These have been translated into a vacuum sealed container for coffee beans, and an electric flat burr grinder to process the stored product.
Key visual elements of these large structures, such as corrugated steel panelling, structural support beams and raw materiality have been reimagined and refined to a smaller domestic scale. This process of careful refinement has resulted in a bold yet contemporary aesthetic, that retains the character of the structures that inspired the design.
A large textured dial and laser etched bezel with adjustment markings allows for precise control of
the grind size. This tactile, analogue control surrounds the bean inlet of the
grinder.
Silo has a modular construction of
rings – informed by how grain silos are assembled. This allows for
different sizes of container to be assembled using repeated parts.
The central threaded shaft allows for an inner plate to be raised as beans are used up, reducing the amount of oxygen in the container to prevent oxidisation of the stored coffee.
The central threaded shaft allows for an inner plate to be raised as beans are used up, reducing the amount of oxygen in the container to prevent oxidisation of the stored coffee.