Castels: A Unique Sauce Dish Inspired by Architectural Works

An Abstraction of Castles, Moats, and Bridges

Art is an expression of creativity and imagination. Is it possible to use imagination for an aesthetic food presentation and prepare plates inspired by architectural works? Renowned designer Bulent Unal answers this question with his innovative sauce dish design, Castels. This unique creation combines the typology of castle structures from different continents throughout history, abstracting the essence of castles, moats, and bridges into a functional and visually striking piece.

Castels stands out on the dining table with its captivating design. Each sauce bowl is meticulously crafted to resemble a castle, complete with a surrounding moat and a movable bridge. Made from porcelain, the bowls exude elegance and sophistication, while the bridge can be customized using either metal or natural stone, such as marble.

One of the remarkable features of Castels is its versatility. The sauce bowls are sold individually, allowing consumers to mix and match their preferred castle designs. With a diameter of approximately 180mm, each bowl provides ample space for sauces, while the height varies depending on the model, with the tallest reaching 100mm.

Porcelain, the chosen material for Castels, offers numerous advantages. It is produced from naturally sourced raw materials, and its pristine whiteness comes from the materials used in its recipe, rather than artificial dyes. Fired at a high temperature of 1400°C, porcelain is not only aesthetically pleasing but also represents health and hygiene. It is easily cleaned, has low water absorption, and does not harbor bacteria on its surface.

When it comes to functionality, Castels excels in its purpose. The castle-shaped bowl provides a visually appealing presentation while ensuring a secure grip when serving sauces. The moat section is designed to hold the desired sauce, while the movable bridge acts as a barrier, preventing any excess sauce from dripping onto the plate. By simply touching the bridge with the food, any excess sauce flows back into the bowl, ensuring a mess-free dining experience.

The Castels project commenced in March 2020 and was completed in November of the same year. Throughout the design process, extensive research was conducted to determine the optimal depth and capacity of the sauce bowls, considering the fluidity properties of various sauces and the need to avoid wastage.

Abstraction, a crucial method in architecture, posed a significant challenge in the creation of Castels. Abstracting the castle typology from three different continents and reimagining it in a different function required careful consideration and ingenuity. However, Bulent Unal successfully overcame this challenge, resulting in a design that seamlessly blends art, architecture, and culinary aesthetics.

Castels has been recognized for its outstanding creativity and ingenuity, receiving the Bronze A' Design Award in the Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware, and Cookware Design category in 2021. This prestigious accolade is bestowed upon designs that exemplify resourcefulness, technical excellence, and a commitment to improving the quality of life through art, science, design, and technology.

With Castels, Bulent Unal has not only created a functional sauce dish but also a work of art that enhances the dining experience. Its unique combination of architectural inspiration, elegant design, and practicality makes Castels a standout addition to any culinary presentation.