Sind die Pflanzgefäße von Atelier Vierkant frostfest?

Nach Herstellerangabe ja. Der Ton wird bei rund 1.200 °C gebrannt; die fertige Scherbe hat danach eine Porosität von etwa 3 Prozent und nimmt deshalb kaum Wasser auf. Was nicht in die Wand eindringt, kann dort auch nicht gefrieren und die Wand sprengen – daher bleiben die Gefäße von Atelier Vierkant ganzjährig draußen stehen. Ausgenommen ist die Serie SYD: Sie trägt eine zweite Schale im Inneren und ist nach Herstellerangabe nicht frostsicher; diese Gefäße gehören vor dem ersten Frost an einen frostfreien Platz. Bei den flachen Schalen PB, SR und SRD bestellen Sie das Gefäß mit Abflussloch und stellen es auf die mitgelieferten Gummifüße, damit sich darin kein Wasser sammelt und gefriert.

Was ist beim Überwintern eines bepflanzten Gefäßes zu beachten?

Entscheidend ist, dass sich im Inneren kein Eis um den Wurzelballen bildet und von innen gegen die Wand drückt. Halten Sie den Wasserablauf deshalb auch im Winter frei, damit Niederschlag jederzeit abziehen kann. Die Frostbeständigkeit des Materials ersetzt diesen Punkt nicht – sie schützt die Wand vor eindringender Feuchtigkeit, nicht vor dem Druck einer gefrorenen Erdmasse. Steht das Gefäß auf einem Untersetzer, gilt dasselbe für den Untersetzer: Sorgen Sie dafür, dass sich vor dem Winter kein Wasser darin sammelt. Gefriert es, kann das darauf stehende Gefäß im Eis festfrieren und beim Lösen Schaden nehmen – leeren Sie den Untersetzer deshalb vor dem ersten Frost. Zum Lieferumfang gehören Gummifüße, drei bei runden und vier bei eckigen Gefäßen.

Welche Formen brauchen eine Dämmschicht zwischen Erde und Wand?

Gerade Formen wie die Serien BRL und B sowie geschlossene Formen, deren Bauch weiter ist als die Öffnung – etwa OF und OD –, erhalten nach Herstellerangabe eine Dämmschicht aus Styropor oder einem vergleichbaren Material zwischen Erde und Gefäßwand. Der Grund liegt in der Geometrie: Gefrierende Erde dehnt sich aus und findet in diesen Formen keinen Weg nach oben, sodass der Druck seitlich auf die Wand wirkt. Die Dämmschicht fängt ihn ab. Bei konischen Formen wie der Serie A ist sie nicht nötig, weil die Erde dort nach oben ausweichen kann.

Wie läuft das Wasser ab, und wie wird richtig bepflanzt?

Im Boden sitzt mittig eine Öffnung von 28 Millimetern. Je nach Bodendurchmesser sind ab Werk auch 8, 12, 45, 50, 81 und 101 Millimeter möglich, ebenso mehrere Öffnungen in einem Gefäß – etwa für ein Elektrokabel oder eine Wasserzu- und -ableitung. Solche Abweichungen werden mit der Bestellung festgelegt. Für den Aufbau empfiehlt der Hersteller unten Blähtonkugeln, darauf ein wurzelfestes Trennvlies, damit keine Erde in die Drainage rieselt, und darüber Erde und Wurzelballen.

Warum unterscheidet sich jedes Gefäß vom nächsten?

Jedes Gefäß von Atelier Vierkant wird von Hand geformt und modelliert. Nach dem Formen trocknen die Rohlinge mehrere Tage unter luftblasenden Rohren; erst danach werden Texturen und Gravuren von Hand eingearbeitet. Es folgen mehrere Tage in der Trockenkammer und der Brand bei rund 1.200 °C, der die Form endgültig festlegt. Aus diesem Ablauf ergeben sich Abweichungen in Farbton, Oberfläche und Maß: Zwei Stücke sind nie exakt gleich, und Maß- und Gewichtsangaben sind Richtwerte.

Welche Farben und Texturen stehen zur Wahl?

Der Tonkörper ist durchgefärbt – Oxide und Pigmente werden der Masse beigemischt und beim Brand vom Ton aufgenommen. Dazu kommen 16 Texturen, die der Hersteller als T0 bis T16 führt, sowie Engoben: flüssiger Tonschlicker mit Oxiden, der außen aufgetragen und auf die Oberfläche aufgebrannt wird und meist nur teilweise deckt. Engoben werden auf Bestellung gefertigt. Eine Übersicht finden Sie auf der Seite Farben und Texturen; Musterplatten der Körperfarben und Texturen versendet der Hersteller auf Anfrage.

Wie werden die Gefäße gepflegt, und wie verändert sich die Oberfläche über die Jahre?

Stärkere Verschmutzungen nimmt nach Herstellerangabe ein Hochdruckreiniger ab; der Korpus wird dabei nicht direkt geschrubbt. Die Farbe bleibt erhalten, weil sie im Ton selbst liegt und beim Brand gebunden wird – Sonne, Regen, Hitze und Frost bleichen sie nach Herstellerangabe nicht aus. Was sich ändert, ist die Anmutung: Rauheit, feine Oberflächenrisse und Einkerbungen gehören zur Gestaltung und gelten ausdrücklich nicht als Mangel. Gegen Veralgung gibt es ein mattes, unsichtbares Silikonmittel (B-Artisil); bei den Serien KE, KR, KD, KL, KKA, KKB, KKC und LC ist es ab Werk aufgetragen, für andere Modelle auf Anfrage. Der Hersteller empfiehlt, es alle zwei Jahre mit einem weichen Pinsel zu erneuern.

Wie lange dauert die Lieferung?

Fertigung auf Bestellung – den genauen Termin bestätigen wir Ihnen mit dem Auftrag. Atelier Vierkant fertigt in eigenen Werkstätten und deckt jeden Arbeitsschritt selbst ab, vom Pressen des Tons bis zum Brand; eine Zwischenfertigung außer Haus gibt es nicht.

Gibt es Gefäße, die nicht erst gefertigt werden müssen?

Ja. Ein Teil des Sortiments liegt fertig im Herstellerlager und kommt von dort. Welche Größen, Formen und Farben das derzeit sind, zeigt die Übersicht sofort lieferbar.

Welche Gewährleistung gilt?

Für alle Gefäße gilt die gesetzliche Gewährleistung von zwei Jahren; Ihr Ansprechpartner sind wir als Verkäufer. Handgefertigte Merkmale – Abweichungen in Farbton, Oberfläche und Maß sowie feine Oberflächenrisse und Einkerbungen – gehören nach Herstellerangabe zur Gestaltung und gelten nicht als Mangel.

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Unopiù Solaire – Ersatzplane freistehende gebogene Pergola, PVC weiß

Pergolas

Todus Dongo modulares Loungesofa U-Form mit großem und kleinem Tisch 450/361 cm

Lounge furniture

expormim Bistro-Tisch 80 cm, quadratisch

tables

Seating furniture

Garden loungers

Gandia Blasco Nao-Nao Hollywoodschaukel – Bild 8

Porch swings

Riviera Sonnenschirm Ø 250 cm olivgrün – Garteneinsatz, Schattenbereich

Parasols

Unopiù Gewächshaus Orangerie Detail – Schwingflügelfenster und 2-flügelige Tür

Greenhouses

Tribù MONSIEUR TRICOT Hängeleuchte brick

lighting

Adezz Wassertisch aus Aluminium mit LED und Pumpe, quadratisch – Bild 6

Garden accessories

Atelier Vierkant Gartenkeramik – handgefertigte Tonkeramik

Collection: Atelier Vierkant

Atelier Vierkant transforms clay into architecture: handcrafted planters, seating stones and vessels from the Belgian manufactory in Ostend. Each piece is shaped by hand, fired at high temperatures and fully colored through – a unique piece with a calm, archaic design language for indoor and outdoor use. As specialist retailers, we carry the complete range and will advise you on choosing the right model, size and color.

ATELIER VIERKANT

Ceramics as architecture – handcrafted vessels from Belgium that do not decorate outdoor spaces, but structure them.

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Sculptural ceramics for outdoor spaces

The objects by Atelier Vierkant are not accessories, but architectural elements: calm, powerful, and timeless in their presence. Discover the shapes – round, square, rectangular, organic – as well as seating stones and Clay Tables.

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Atelier Vierkant Surface texture of handcrafted ceramics

Colors & Textures

Availability

Made to order — or already fired in stock

A vessel commissioned goes through forming, drying, and firing. How long this process takes depends on the size of the vessel and the capacity of the workshops; we will confirm the exact date with the order.

A part of the range, on the other hand, is already fired in the Belgian manufacturer's warehouse and will be dispatched from there within a few days. For a project with a fixed deadline — a handover, an opening, a planting that must fall within its season — this is the crucial difference.

The overview immediately available shows which models, sizes, and colors are currently in stock. The inventory changes: What is sold out leaves the list, newly arrived sizes and colors are added. If a desired version is not listed, it can still be commissioned.

Three vessels by Atelier Vierkant made of fired clay next to each other on a bench

Manufactory & Family

70 tons of clay per week

Atelier Vierkant is a Belgian manufactory for vessels made of fired clay. It was founded by Willy and Annette Janssens; the business is now run by their three sons Bert, Dries, and Ward. The clay comes from Western Europe and is processed in their own workshops — around 70 tons per week.

Every step of the process remains in-house: pressing, forming, drying, firing. None of it is outsourced, so the origin of every vessel can be traced. Distributed without agents, importers, or advertising — what a vessel costs is decided by the vessel itself.

One of the sons says he used to go into the barn as a child in the evenings, where his father experimented with clay; his father is still interested in the play and appeal of the craft today. Three workshops are now operating, and another production facility on the outskirts of Brussels is under construction.

Atelier Vierkant O planter made of fired clay, planted with a Japanese maple in a courtyard

Material & Production

From wet clay to firing at 1,200 °C

The clay used is highly grogged; the high proportion of fired clay particles gives the surface its texture. The clay is pressed, formed, and modeled into shape. Then the blanks lie under air-blowing pipes for several days, releasing some of the bound water.

Only after the pre-dried body are textures and engravings added by hand. Several days in the drying chamber follow, then firing at around 1,200 °C, which permanently sets the shape. The finished ceramic has a porosity of about three percent and absorbs almost no water.

The clay mass is colored, not the surface: oxides and pigments are mixed in and absorbed by the clay during firing. According to the manufacturer, they do not fade from sun, rain, heat, or frost. According to the manufacturer, only the SYD series with its inner second shell is not frost-resistant; these vessels must be placed in a frost-free location before the first frost. The flat PB, SR, and SRD shells remain outside all year round if they are ordered with a drainage hole and placed on the included rubber feet.

Two tall Atelier Vierkant BRL100 planters in gray in front of the glass facade of a modern building

Reference projects

Where the vessels stand

The manufactory's catalog and magazine feature more than seventy projects, including location, series, and participants. In public spaces, the A series accompanies Stable Street in King's Cross, London, as a green path from Granary to Lewis Cubitt Square (Dan Pearson). AHS180 and AHS220 stand in the departure hall of Zurich Airport; the HK series stands at the Port House in Antwerp, a building by Zaha Hadid.

In corporate headquarters: K seating stones at Siemens in Munich, AUS at the headquarters of Erste Bank in Vienna, SRS130 and SRS65 at Swiss Re in Zurich, AH90 in gray at Postfinance in Bern. At the SWICA headquarters in Winterthur stand flat pebble-shaped planters whose narrow openings the manufacturer describes as a special manufacturing challenge (landscaping: Aplantis). In the lobby of the U.S. Bank Centre in Seattle, SkB Architects worked with two-tone cylinders.

In addition, culture and hospitality: the Sompo Museum of Art in Tokyo with KH vessels and K seating stones, the STAM City Museum in Ghent with KH3 and KKA, The Alpina Gstaad with A80 and AH90, the Cadzand Beach Hotel with AHSB220 and AUS130 (Studio Piet Boon). How far a custom-made piece can go is shown by Sa Ferradura on Ibiza: 36 units of 2.30 meters each, designed for wind speeds of up to 160 km/h.

Two Atelier Vierkant LPS100 planters with textured clay surface on a terrace

For architects and planners

Special colors, special textures, project quantities

Atelier Vierkant works worldwide with around 3,000 architects and designers. Details are coordinated through samples, photos, and 3D-printed models; special requests are developed in the Clay Labs in Ostend. A custom-made piece begins with a technical and aesthetic feasibility check, followed by a small-scale prototype and a full-scale replica, after which the form is built.

For specifications: The clay body is solid-colored, complemented by sixteen textures, which the manufacturer lists from T0 to T16, and engobes, which are fired to order — the available options are shown on the Colors and Textures page. The base opening can be made in several diameters, and even multiple openings in one vessel, for example for an electrical cable or water supply and drainage. Such variations are specified with the order. For assembly, the manufacturer recommends expanded clay balls at the bottom, followed by a root-retaining fleece so that no soil falls into the drainage, and then soil and root ball on top.

For clarification: The manufacturer supplies the material for securing the base; they do not perform drilling into the ground, anchoring, or on-site assembly. The items are delivered to the curb at an address where loading and unloading are possible. We discuss project quantities, special colors, and special textures via the contact form.

Unsure about a color or texture? The Atelier Vierkant Sample Box brings the original samples to your home — against a €200 deposit, which is refunded upon return.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ – Atelier Vierkant

Are Atelier Vierkant planters frost-resistant?

According to the manufacturer, yes. The clay is fired at around 1,200 °C; the finished ceramic has a porosity of about three percent and therefore absorbs almost no water. What does not penetrate the wall cannot freeze there and burst it – therefore, Atelier Vierkant vessels can remain outside all year round. The exception is the SYD series: It has a second shell inside and is not frost-resistant according to the manufacturer; these vessels must be placed in a frost-free location before the first frost. For the flat PB, SR, and SRD shells, order the vessel with a drainage hole and place it on the included rubber feet so that no water collects and freezes inside.

What should be considered when overwintering a planted vessel?

The crucial point is that no ice forms inside around the root ball and pushes against the wall from the inside. Therefore, keep the water drainage clear even in winter so that precipitation can drain away at all times. The frost resistance of the material does not replace this point – it protects the wall from penetrating moisture, not from the pressure of frozen soil. If the vessel stands on a saucer, the same applies to the saucer: Make sure that no water collects in it before winter. If it freezes, the vessel standing on it can freeze into the ice and be damaged when loosened – therefore, empty the saucer before the first frost. The delivery includes rubber feet, three for round vessels and four for square vessels.

Which shapes need an insulation layer between the soil and the wall?

Straight shapes such as the BRL and B series, as well as closed shapes whose belly is wider than the opening – such as OF and OD –, receive an insulation layer made of Styrofoam or a comparable material between the soil and the vessel wall, according to the manufacturer. The reason lies in the geometry: Freezing soil expands and finds no way up in these shapes, so the pressure acts laterally on the wall. The insulation layer absorbs it. In conical shapes such as the A series, it is not necessary because the soil can move upwards.

How does the water drain, and how is it properly planted?

In the base, there is a 28-millimeter opening in the center. Depending on the base diameter, 8, 12, 45, 50, 81, and 101 millimeters are also possible from the factory, as well as multiple openings in one vessel – for example for an electrical cable or water supply and drainage. Such variations are specified with the order. For assembly, the manufacturer recommends expanded clay balls at the bottom, followed by a root-retaining fleece so that no soil falls into the drainage, and then soil and root ball on top.

Why does every vessel differ from the next?

Every vessel by Atelier Vierkant is shaped and modeled by hand. After forming, the blanks dry for several days under air-blowing pipes; only then are textures and engravings added by hand. Several days in the drying chamber follow, then firing at around 1,200 °C, which permanently sets the shape. This process results in variations in shade, surface, and dimensions: Two pieces are never exactly alike, and dimensions and weight specifications are guidelines.

Which colors and textures are available?

The clay body is solid-colored – oxides and pigments are mixed into the clay mass and absorbed by the clay during firing. In addition, there are 16 textures, which the manufacturer lists from T0 to T16, as well as engobes: liquid clay slip with oxides, which is applied to the outside and fired onto the surface, and usually only partially covers. Engobes are made to order. An overview can be found on the Colors and Textures page; the manufacturer sends sample boards of the body colors and textures upon request.

How are the vessels maintained, and how does the surface change over the years?

According to the manufacturer, stronger dirt is removed with a pressure washer; the body is not scrubbed directly. The color remains because it is in the clay itself and is bound during firing – according to the manufacturer, it does not fade from sun, rain, heat, or frost. What changes is the appearance: roughness, fine surface cracks, and indentations are part of the design and are expressly not considered defects. Against algae, there is a matte, invisible silicone treatment (B-Artisil); for the KE, KR, KD, KL, KKA, KKB, KKC, and LC series, it is applied at the factory, and for other models upon request. The manufacturer recommends renewing it every two years with a soft brush.

How long does delivery take?

Made to order – we will confirm the exact date with the order. Atelier Vierkant manufactures in its own workshops and covers every step of the process itself, from pressing the clay to firing; there is no intermediate production off-site.

Are there any vessels that do not need to be made first?

Yes. Part of the range is already finished and stored in the manufacturer's warehouse, from where it is shipped. The overview available immediately shows which sizes, shapes, and colors are currently available.

What warranty applies?

All vessels are covered by the statutory two-year warranty; we, as the seller, are your point of contact. According to the manufacturer, handcrafted characteristics—variations in color, finish, and dimensions, as well as fine surface cracks and indentations—are part of the design and are not considered defects.

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Collection: Atelier Vierkant

Sculptural ceramics for outdoor spaces

Round planters

Square planters

Rectangular planters

Organic planters

Seating stones

Clay Table

Immediately available

Colors & Textures

Made to order — or already fired in stock

70 tons of clay per week

From wet clay to firing at 1,200 °C

Where the vessels stand

Special colors, special textures, project quantities

FAQ – Atelier Vierkant

Personalized advice for your garden oasis

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