The Dwell 24: Heven
Former models Breann Box and Peter Dupont craft organic, ethereal objects from glass.
Like many other creatives, the pandemic was the tipping point for Breanna Box and Peter Dupont, the models-turned-cofounders of the self-described "heavenly network of creators" Heven. In a matter of just a few years, the recently engaged couple learned glassblowing, started their home goods brand, and took the fashion world by storm along with it. Breanna had just completed a class on the craft when lockdown began, and her hobby sparked a latent childhood obsession in Peter as well. The two soon found themselves turning to a variety of collaborators to see their new visions through, leaning on their fashion connections to release obsessed-over collections with brands like Etam—flower glass bikinis—Coperni—glass bags and Louis Poulsen—lamps. How did they do it?
Dupont credits their years across disciplines, and the "team sport" nature of their work, which means they often work with other glassblowers to produce their final products. "I think it’s a little bit like an architect who has an idea of how woodworking works or a designer who knows how to sew and cut a pattern," he says. "They don’t have to be the best tailor in the whole world, but if you understand the process, it’s way easier to communicate it with a very skilled craftsman or a craft person, and relay that and make that work."
Even with the ubiquity of a show like Netflix’s Blown Away, glass can still seem fiery and unapproachable to a layman. To Heven, however, it’s "a very playful material"—a quality that comes in handy when developing something like their Marshmallow Lamp, which Dupont, who is Danish, says was inspired by looking at old homewares from his native country, such as those by Verner Panton. "It was me trying to explore blowing bigger glass, but in a very simple form," he says, explaining that he wanted to mirror the often plastic forms of his predecessors, but in their chosen material. "I think it’s interesting to take these designers that were making stuff that were accessible and mass produced and then making it into something that’s more elevated and handmade."
The pair’s deep comfort in the internet age, and passion for producing films—which they say is the throughline of their work—has clearly inspired and supported them on all fronts, from their otherworldly, alien-esque shapes to gaining traction on their work. "You have so many skilled glassblowers who know how to make all these things but have no idea how to market it and no idea how to sell it," Dupont explains, "which is a shame because you know, it’s a lot of really skilled people out there who could do their own thing. But that’s not what you learn at art school."
Heven plans to continue producing film, and hopes to continue to join forces with other design brands. And soon, they’ll be opening their own store on the Lower East Side in New York City, which will share space with a friend’s ceramic studio, and will also be a family affair, run by Breanna’s grandmother. "We’re kind of using it as an ongoing glass and film school," says Dupont, of the entire endeavor. Naturally.
Read the full Q&A with Peter Dupont below.
Hometown: Copenhagen.
Describe what you make in 140 characters... Together with Breanna Box, I run Heven—a small design studio focused on but not limited to glass. We work in between fashion, art and design.
What’s the last thing you designed? A bunch of stuff I can’t tell you about yet. But what’s out is some redesigned PH lamps for Louis Poulsen.
Do you have a daily creative ritual? No.
How do you procrastinate? I’m pretty organized in when I work and when I relax. I have small list for my day and put great effort into doing stuff when they need to be done. Also means I don’t do stuff in advance if it doesn’t make sense at that moment. But sometimes I push away work to watch films with Breanna.
What everyday object would you like to redesign? Why? Coming from Denmark, there is a lot of classical furniture that could be fun. Like our latest PH project. That was definitely a big deal for me.
Who are your heroes (in design, in life, in both)? Charlot Perriand, Isamu Noguchi, KT from the Glasshub, Verner Panton, Ettore Sottsass, Massimo Osti, Edward Hopper, Alexander Calder, Alex Lowe.
What skill would you most like to learn? Welding and metal work.
What is your most treasured possession? A bracelet from my grandma.
What’s your earliest memory of an encounter with design? Watching my mom draw.
What contemporary design trend do you despise? Stuff that’s not well made. I treasure craft a lot.
Finish this statement: All design should... Be important to the maker. People who do their best and put in work create stuff that matters.
What’s in your dream house? A good mix of Bauhaus, Memphis, classic Danish. And my own creations.
How can the design world be more inclusive? Transparency. More focus on smaller productions. Open source technology. Taking stuff in your own hands and not relying on an old school gallery structure.
What do you wish non-designers understood about the design industry? The time things take.
You can learn more about Heven on Instagram.
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Top Image: Courtesy Heven