We had a little interview...
...with Dutch green loving magazine 'Seasons' about our fruit- and vegetable bowl Patera Magna.
The spring issue is one to pick up: beautiful cover art, a sweet paper bird ornament, and plenty of green inspiration inside.
Seasons 3/2026 is in Dutch stores now, so get it while you can!
Better storage for less waste
About the piece:
Seasons Magazine asked us about the Patera Magna, our terracotta fruit and vegetable bowl designed to reduce food waste.
We talk about how ethylene gas affects ripening, why some produce is better off outside the fridge, and how an age-old cooling method inspired the design.
Below you'll find the full translated piece.
Three questions for...
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...Jana and Thomas of House of Thol
Designers Jana and Thomas of House of Thol develop solutions to help people be more mindful about food.
Like the Patera Magna (Latin for 'large bowl'): a fruit and vegetable bowl with separate compartments that keeps produce fresher for longer.
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Why did you design the Patera Magna?
"We try to be as mindful as possible about food, but noticed we were still regularly throwing away fruit and vegetables because they had gone off. That got us thinking: how do ripening and spoilage actually work? That's what we started researching." -
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What did you need to take into account?
"Ripening fruit like bananas and apples releases a gas that can cause other fruit and vegetables to spoil more quickly.The Patera Magna prevents this by storing ripening fruit separately, in the dark and covered.
Fruit and vegetables that aren't actively ripening sit on top, visible and within easy reach, so they get eaten in time."
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What does the ideal storage method look like?
"We also realised that the fridge is actually too cold for many fruits and vegetables. A cellar temperature turns out to be ideal.That's why the Patera Magna is made from terracotta: you fill the outer bowl with water, which slowly evaporates through the porous walls and creates natural cooling. An age-old method that still works beautifully."
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The Patera Magna is largely handmade in the workshop in Overasselt and costs €349. Please allow a delivery time of 3 to 6 months.- houseofthol.shop
