Trewhela Williams and Etraterra were commissioned by the Vicenza-based company Marmi Faedo, who operate the only Grolla stone quarry in the world, to design a stand from their signature limestone for a stone trade fair in Verona. The overall installation was conceived as a minimalist Grolla landscape and serene setting insulated from the bustle of the trade fair.
Grolla’s excellent technical mechanical characteristics of low water absorption, resistance to abrasion, salt, pollution and frost has leant it to external application over the centuries and meant that this ancient material that can be found across a number of historic civic buildings, city squares, fountains and monuments around Northern Italy. One notable example in Vicenza is the distinctive balustrades of the San Michele Bridge, which were carved from solid Grolla back in 1621. It is the abstracted curvature of these that has informed the central gesture of the stand - a 6m long monolithic bar.
The sculptural simplicity of the bar’s frontage is distinguished by its base peeling away from the ground plane to form a pronounced belly, which inflects into a cantilevered countertop. The bar comprises of 3 sections of carved solid Grollla Beige and Rosato, with each section weighing 4.9 tonnes which required their careful craning and positioning into place.
The final geometry of the bar’s profile was finessed in coordination with structural engineers Bailiss & Co who guided on the lateral stability of the object factoring in characteristic live loads of bar users leaning on the edge of the cantilevered countertop (as the temporary nature of the installation prohibited base fixings into the ground).
The heavy-set bar is complimented by a cluster of supporting elements - bar stools, coffee table, bench seating and plant troughs, all formed from Grolla and working together in unison as a harmonious whole. The strong, weighty geometry of these forms is offset by the wild informality of the Eucalyptus Gunnii screening bushes to the stand’s perimeter. The limestone elements showcase a variety of finishes from the flamed floor tiles, sawn sides of the bar and honed countertop.
At the end of the trade fare the installation was dismantled and transported back to Marmi Faedo’s workshop where it was reassembled and now serves as a bar for the craftsmen who first shaped the elements.
Quotation
“There is a beautiful, subtle character to Grolla’s surface distinguished by its delicate webbed vein patterning and shifting palette of neutral tones with hints of pink and beige. It was felt that a design approach founded on sculptural simplicity and strong geometry would best showcase its enduring visual hallmarks.
We sought to convey a weighty, monumental quality and as such looked to Grolla’s rich history in Marmi Faedo’s own hometown of Vicenza for inspiration in the shaping of the bar’s monolithic form.” Joseph Williams Principal of Trewhela Williams and Creative Lead of
Etraterra
Etraterra was founded on Gareth Davies and Joseph Williams shared passion for the enduring qualities of natural stone and stonecraft. Respectively, we bring together 25 years experience of specialist stone sourcing with 20 years of award-winning design.
We are committed to the unearthing of lesser-known, characterful stones and redefining these into compelling works of refined functionality. Working closely with trusted artisans we ensure that each piece is precisely resolved and carefully crafted. Our works celebrate their distinct geological provenance and exist at the confluence of art, sculpture and product design.
Joseph Williams is an RIBA Chartered Architect and founding Principal of the award-winning architecture & design studio Trewhela Williams based in Southwest London. Joseph’s passion for designing custom furniture stems from his background in detailing highly bespoke private residences across the UK, Asia and Africa. His approach to furniture and bar design focuses on the shaping of noble materials into singular pieces that hold a bodily coherence.
Gareth Davies is Director of natural stone and marble specialists GD Stones. As a result of his relentless search for new, interesting and technically superior natural stone for architects and designers, Gareth has built an extensive network of quarries, factories and agents across the globe. His quest has taken him off the beaten track and initiated the revival of forgotten quarries. For Etraterra, Gareth has sought to utilise his close industry relationships to provides exclusive access to rare, sought-after stones of unique character
Marmi Faedo
Marmi Faedo is the exclusive owner of the only Grolla marble quarry in the world, which is located a short distance from our company, in the Cornedo-Valdagno valley.
The passion of the Faedo family for marble goes way back: it was Angelo Faedo who moved the first steps in the marble industry, more than seventy years ago. He then passed the baton on to his son Alessandro, who bought the whole quarry located in Spagnago in the second half of the Eighties, thereby making Marmi Faedo the only company in the world to extract Grolla marble. Today, the third generation works in the company with Nicola and Francesca.
Marmi Faedo has since become the reference point for the domestic market as well as for foreign markets. The company has acquired an important role in the global market and has created works both outside the Veneto Region and abroad.
The uniqueness of the Grolla marble lies in its exceptional mechanical technical properties, all of which have been strictly certified. Low water absorption, resistance to abrasion, to swimming pool salts and crystallization make this marble also suitable for outdoor applications. But that’s not all: Grolla marble is an extremely versatile product that lends itself to any type of processing.
