2023-09-25 13:02:01
A new ancient lithic world is about to be discovered. «Stone hunters, i.e. geologists and mining engineers, are on the hunt for varieties with colors, iridescence and veining never seen before», he explains Grace Gentlemen, geologist and coordinator of the Uni regulatory group for natural stones. «They recently unveiled in Iran, Mexico, Morocco, Egypt and Turkey of enormous onyx caves, underground cities that extend for kilometers».
Organic forms that recall a herbarium are the works created for the exhibition Herbarium Mirabile by Raffaello Galiotto scheduled at The Plus Theater (Hall 10)
There is no international observatory of marble and decorative stones, but one thing is certain: «The types are increasing, increasingly requested for special projects». According to data from Confindustria Marmomacchine, Italian stone production in 2022 increased by 12.8 percent compared to the previous year. A growing offer, on display at Marmomac, the event of the entire natural stone supply chain, from the quarry to the processed product and machinery, from 26 to 29 September at Veronafiere. «Marmomac’s primacy comes from its ability to combine business with the enhancement of product culture and technological innovation», states Federico Bricolo, president of Veronafiere. «We promote knowledge of lithic varieties so that architects and designers are ambassadors, and we encourage research to explore new languages and potential».
MARMOMAC in VERONA Manual skills and mechanics. The role play in marble processing helps art and health Valentina Ferlazzo 25 September 2023
The work Stone Origami, a roofing system for an urban shelter inspired by the triangular geometry of origami, designed by Giuseppe Fallacara
At Marmomac, now in its 57th edition, the monumental blocks arrive after months of travel: «They travel around the world transported in cargo ships”, continues the geologist. «In addition to the white Carrara marble, among the most desired, we are looking for veined stones, varieties unique because no two blocks are the same, surfaces “designed” by nature resulting from stratifications of millions of years. An example is the Gré strain, a sedimentary stone with spectacular textures, the quarry overlooks Lake Iseo, an exciting deposit to visit and where a new gray veined marble will soon be born.”
Thanks to patented consolidation systems, such as casing and vacuum resin coating to reinforce and protect the blocks, even fragile stones that were unthinkable to work fifteen years ago are extracted: «How pegmatites, rocks with large shiny crystals, also sought after by the mining industry because they are rich in metals such as lithium used in various fields, from batteries to eyeglass lenses». There are rocks with an extraordinary genesis: «An unusual, and therefore requested, color is green, like Guatemala green, India green, Alps green, rocks born from an ancient ocean floor left floating in the clash between the earth’s plates» .
I Stone diggers take up to three years to discover new types: «It is not enough to find the color that is missing on the market, we must evaluate how large the quarry is, whether it is reachable, the workability of the stone and its performance, the local legislation for the exploitation of resources and the availability of water for the manufacturing processes. extraction. We start by studying the geological map and the morphology of the territory, but often in militarized countries the documents are classified to hide the mineral deposits.” There are architects constantly traveling to find exclusive lithic varieties: «This year I went to Brazil for Copacabana, a spectacular exotic stone composed of black schist and white pegmatite», says Craig Copeland, designer and sculptor, partner of the Pelli Clarke&Partners studio in New York.
[[(gele.Finegil.StandardArticle2014v1) Design Repubblica in edicola il 20 settembre]]
«I love travertine, like Travertino Silver with shades from cappuccino to cream with occasional blue lines, I chose it to create a wall in a lobby twelve by twenty meters high, imagined as a continuous stone tapestry. Now I’m working with the red Santafiora sandstone from Manciano, in the province of Grosseto, which is reminiscent of the historic brown facades of New York.” On the manufacturing front, finishes and polishing amplify the three-dimensional charm of the stones. «With 3D modeling and parametric design we create sculptural surfaces with stones that seem to mold like liquids. We experiment with thin layered slabs made of different materials, such as onyx on one side and white marble on the other, the effect is magical».
Photographs of the evolution of the Earth, which by fortuitous combinations have reached us, stones seduce for their uniqueness, ability to connect us to nature and durability. «In the quarry we are more selective and often choose stones close to the project site», continues Copeland. «With diamond wire cutters and numerical control machines we obtain lighter and thinner slabs, we use less material, we reduce waste while honoring the preciousness of the stone».
ARCHITECTURE Half physical, half digital. For shopping, meeting and having fun. According to OMA today the store must be a service hub and the first is Bershka by Manuela Mimosa Ravasio 22 September 2023
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