Bonsai, literally plantings (sai) in a tray (bon), are a familiar sighting among Japanese homes but designers Dasiuke Tsumanuma and Kenichi Yamada are moving from the more traditional planter to a new kind of terrarium. Their brand, [ 10¹² ] TERRA, makes use of the transparency of glass to feature both what lies above and below the surface. True to the brand name that alludes to the number of cells produced each day, the handcrafted containers highlight not just the leafy greens but also the meristem at the tip of the root, the source of new cells for plants. The glass construction of the pieces makes them ideal for hydroponics, and creates the illusion of the flower or plant floating in the air with roots exposed and pulsing with life. The prisms come in a variety of sizes and configurations – some orthogonal, others rotated on their edges – to accommodate a range of aesthetics that can be both table-top pieces as well as wall hangings.
