The First Sketch
“An essential oil storage shelf that’s not only practical but also aesthetically appealing.”
That was the core principle guiding my very first sketch. I wasn’t good at drawing. I didn’t know how to use 3D design software like Blender or SolidWorks. But the vision was so vivid, so compelling in my mind, that I knew I had to bring it to life. I simply couldn’t let the idea slip away.
The revitalized art gallery is set to redefine cultural landscape.
The Tree Design
The concept is a three-tiered shelf inspired by the graceful form of a tree.
A stationary base serves as the foundation. From it, a central pole rises like a trunk. Crowning the top is a dedicated tray for an essential oil diffuser. Below, two spacious tiers unfurl, each with clear, individual slots tilted at a 45-degree angle — like branches spreading out from the trunk.
I have to admit: the idea of tilting the slots was very exciting. What’s a tree without little branches, right?
The Acrylic Challenge
However, making this happen was another story. The slots needed to be clear and tilted — that was the main challenge.
After weeks of research and talking to a good friend who had worked with countless materials in his life, the only material we both agreed was worth trying was acrylic (PMMA is the technical term).
The Cable Problem
There was another problem.
Most essential oil diffusers have a cable — for charging or power — that dangles right where the rotating trays need to spin. I kept picturing it snagging on the bottle slots.
So I started sketching a solution: a dedicated central channel that lets the cable travel down through the trays and trunk, exiting cleanly at the base.
Later, I decided to try bamboo ply. I thought it would certainly work.
I cut about 100 units’ worth of bamboo ply and put them on a shelf while I worked on other things to get the product ready for the market.
The Cutting Machine & CNC Modification
Around this time — before any frustration — I also designed a cutting machine specifically for 45-degree acrylic tubes.
I also bought a CNC machine and modified it to add a vacuum system.
I still have the pictures and videos from my first test cut. I still have the photos of me modifying the CNC.
The Failure
But five or six months later, I came back to the bamboo.
It had deformed. Warped. Twisted. Unusable.
The cutting machine, the modified CNC, and the failed bamboo panels — all of them sat together in my garage.
I was frustrated. I stopped working on the product entirely. It was never published as expected.
Two years later, I walked into my garage and saw everything still sitting there.
The bamboo panels. The cutting machine. The modified CNC.
I just couldn’t make peace with myself.
I wanted people to see this design. I wanted it to exist in their lives. I couldn’t let it die in my garage.
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Francesca Piovani
Founder, CEO & Architect
Rhye Moore
Engineering Manager
Helga Steiner
Architect
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Project Manager
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Études offers comprehensive consulting, management, design, and research solutions. Our vision is to be at the forefront of architectural innovation, fostering a global community of architects and enthusiasts united by a passion for creating spaces. Every architectural endeavor is an opportunity to shape the future.
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Études offers comprehensive consulting, management, design, and research solutions. Our vision is to be at the forefront of architectural innovation, fostering a global community of architects and enthusiasts united by a passion for creating spaces. Every architectural endeavor is an opportunity to shape the future.
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Études offers comprehensive consulting, management, design, and research solutions. Our vision is to be at the forefront of architectural innovation, fostering a global community of architects and enthusiasts united by a passion for creating spaces. Every architectural endeavor is an opportunity to shape the future.
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