Marsotto Edizioni, studio nendo: „surprise, irony and delight“ in natural stone product design

The household product forerunner in marble showed his „Light & Shadow“ collection at the Milan Design Week

„Surprise irony and delight“ is the title which CEO Costanza Olfi and Mario Marsotto gave the latest collection which the couple proudly presented at the Milan Design Week in April 2016. This time the Japanese nendo Studio and its designer Oki Sato were invited to create household products in black and white marble.

The results were, as always with Marsotto Edizioni, witty, despite the grave-sounding name „Light & Shadow“.

Immediately at the entrance to the gallery Spazio Bigli in close proximity to the Milan Cathedral, visitors were confronted with a surprise: left and right of the entrance the names of previous Marsotto Edizioni-designers were written down, though mirror-inverted on one side.

The scheme was carried out with radical consistency to the point where some visitors lowered their voices having gained the impression that the presentation was somehow venerable.

But there was also reason to smile and even to laugh, e.g. at the „Under Bowl“, realized in perfect craftsmanship but with a twist.

Or „Under Vase“, which, in contrast to „Under bowl“, consists of two pieces.

More comical still: „Gap“, very versatile e.g. as a bench for reading the paper. It can be pivoted at will.

Incidentally, Marsotto recycles its production-site waste marble, transforming smaller pieces, e.g. into card holders.

Mathematicians would call this self-similarity design.

And last but not least, the asymmetrical side tables by the name of „Sway“, which, so we think reach out to be taken seriously.

In contrast, without tongue in cheek but with 100% functionality, table by the name of „Split“.

The various models could be combined in a number of ways.

Distinguishing factor of Marsotto Edizioni is next to wit and functionality the surface singularity. All surfaces are matt polished.

Part of the secret behind Marsotto’s business model lies in the cooperation between the 200-year-old parent firm and the design offspring: For pieces destined for Edizioni, the filet-pieces of the raw blocks are set aside. The rest of the block is cut up for conventional use.