MELT

My initial idea was to machine a thick sheet of stainless steel to create a tray. However, the cost of the material, combined with the machining costs, made the project economically impossible. I therefore opted for aluminium, a cheaper and easier-to-work material, with similar properties in terms of food safety and corrosion resistance. To reduce costs, I reused aluminium leftovers from previous projects, melting them down and casting them into a new piece, allowing the casting process to freely define the shape of the piece. This was a deliberate choice: the manufacturing process became an integral part of the project, influencing its final form. Most of the work was carried out in my backyard using simple tools. For the final finishing operations, such as surface planing, I relied on friends and local makers who generously helped me in exchange for nothing more than a coffee.