The association with the visionary Zaha Hadid arises from the fact that the Anglo-Iraqi architect is inspired as ever by the possibility of taking to the extreme the exploration and shaping of a material, as is marble, with such a stratified and complex compositional structure, inseparably associated with the natural processes that have marked and enriched it over time.
The exceptional characteristic of the furnishing accessories resides in their being entirely monolithic. Each of them comes about and is developed entirely from a single block, worked, excavated, moulded with skill and faultless attention to detail, almost as though it was soft clay: a material continuity that fascinates and succeeds in passing the confines of the imagination.
Sometimes you find that, in the process of working, ideas migrate and develop from one project to another and from one medium to others.
Oval Table has been created for 2019 Citco Design collection. Made in granite and in onyx, the natural patina and materiality of the stone creates a surface and form that permeates a sensual physicality. The central recess of the table iterates Kapoor’s pre-occupation with the sublime space of the void, whilst its scale positions it on the threshold of functional object, landscape and sculpture.
The Fênix fireplace concept is inspired by the flames, as if the shape of fire were captured in stone. The metalanguage of the piece overlayed with actual fire suggests a poetic gaze of life in different stages, a path from heat to cold, life and death. The striking sculptural flames expand into the space, catching the eye and evoking a dreamlike experience of classic mythology, the power of dreams, the cycle of life, and hope for a better future.
The bare marble version of VENUS is by nature intended for gardens and terraces and to add comfort for the indoor version is lined with leather cushion. “The biomorphic and polished curves, rising and falling, precariously floating from one side to the other, cry out to be caressed. The block of marble is grooved by a shadow gap that traces a rational line along its organic shape, highlighting its practicality and ergonomics, as well as controlling its rashness.”
“I love marble because it is extracted from the depths of our earth...
I love it just as I love the cosmos... for the vertigo that triggers a human spark...
From the Jurassic period, between 150 and 200 million years ago, it suggests the planet in fusion...
I want to pay homage to this fragment that has lived for 150 million years and will live on for many more to come...
I consider it the basis of a work of art that still has to be revealed...
In this world of synthetic materials, being able to place your feet on a fragment of eternity becomes very reassuring.”
Three tables.
ENIGMA is carved from white Carrara marble into a three-dimensional matrix. The shelving system features interwoven shelves that appear to open and unfold in a dynamic gesture that follows a parallel trajectory. The result is an extruded puzzle-like form with both surfaces and voids that are highly functional and sculpture at the same time.
EL LUPO table transforms the idea of carved marble and elements of Italian Renaissance architectural masterpieces into a contemporary language.
ENDLESS: an open ended question—with a play of perspective, proportion, light, space and line.
“The materiality of stone embodies the seemingly opposing spirits of both permanence and ductility – of structure and sculpture."
Inspired by this idea, Norman Foster has designed a pair of stone tables symbolising the feminine and masculine form: HADRIANA and HADRIAN.
TOTEM is a table lamp that comes from the material itself with which it is made – marble – and the colours of the various stones selected for its manufacture generate the chromatic range and transparent effects, thanks to varied thicknesses.
"I was intrigued by the idea of something that would be more like a presence, a table sculpture, a reminder of Brancusi with an abstract, anthropomorphic form, but also useful at the same time, not just beautiful. … I am happy with the object I have designed, and I am even happier to have made it by using a material for its intrinsic characteristics, without having to combine it with others.”
Arik Levy designs for CITCO Design Collection for many years.
VORTEX, this functional sculpture has a strong presence in space: its tabletop suggests a concentration of energy, flow, dynamics and spiral movement.
MINERAL STRUCTURES is a bookcase extracted from a single stone volume, hollowed and crafted with the finest technologies and then finished by the skilled hands of specialized craftsmen.
SPLASH: an experiment of turning marble into ‘liquid’.
NEGATIVE SPACES is a series of vases, an abstract manifestation of mineral and architectural structures. Combining both visual dynamics and construction, the volumes interact with each other by creating kinetic movement and depth.
The OrganVase collection combines the classical material par excellence with contemporary codes, generating a dreamy, natural interpretation of an iconic object with ancient overtones, conserved in our genetic memory.
Marco Piva designs for CITCO DESIGN Collection ‘MAGIC CAVE’: a stone sculpture that envelops and generates water. It was born to imitate natural caves. This striking piece creates a curve line that wraps around itself; an environment conceived to welcome, protect and regenerate the body through a delicate shower or a jet that flows into the tub at the base.
John Beckmann launched Axis Mundi in 2004. He studied philosophy and visual culture at the New School, and architecture, interior and industrial design at Parsons School of Design, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Environmental Design. During his studies, he apprenticed with master minimalist Joseph P. D’Urso. Throughout his career he has honed an astute understanding of the intersections between architecture, design and contemporary art.
Somma Light Table is the table lamp designed by emerging Italian designer Fabrizio Bendazzoli. The structure is very symbolic, as it represents the deepest values of every society, due to the harmonious interaction between the portal and the light. This lamp is both poetic and dominant, and can influence the atmosphere of the most luxurious enviroments.
"IN A DUAL WORLD EVERY CHOICE TRACES A NEW POINT OF VIEW. YOU ARE YOUR OWN PATH."
