The reflective collection
Classico Riflesso • Filippo Protasoni
THE ALPS AS A METAPHOR FOR THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD; ITALIAN DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY, SWISS INGENUITY AND MATERIALS.
Claudio Larcher and Filippo Protasioni’s pieces for the 2017 edition of “Clique Smart Matters” speak to the union – achieved exclusively through the most advanced robotic technologies developed by T&D Robotics S.r.l. – between the lightness of reflective surfaces, mirrors, and the primal stability of granite. The granite, Londino gneiss, was extracted by Sangiorgio Elio S.A. and processed by Generelli S.A., of Rivera. By collaborating with designers during development phases, Generelli has crafted slim, tapered elements, in some cases decorated with geometric patterns of a clearly minimalistic taste. Elements capable of expressing the aesthetics of the contemporary world through their sharp geometries, with a refined pastiche that hints at Persian architecture and the brutal Egyptian antiquity on one side and, on the other, to the textures, wing ribs and engineering elements of the aerospace industry.
SWISS MADE, ITALIAN TECHNOLOGY AND CREATIVITY.
The two companies involved – one for the extraction of the materials, the other for their six-axis processing: diamond wire and water jet cutting for milling – are both located in the Canton of Ticino which, as well as guaranteeing compliance with the highest standards, ensures “Classico Riflesso”, “Hole”, “Molletta” and “Puzzle” a fully-fledged place in the “Swiss Made” category, along with some of the clearest examples of Helvetian design.
LOCAL FEATURES, BETWEEN TRADITION AND FUTURE.
The Canton of Ticino, whose landscape is characterized by the use of local stone in spontaneous constructions, once again proves true to its identity. As well as representing the state of the art in design and applied robotic technologies, these projects stand out for their conceptual continuity with the places where they were born, with the stylistic features of the architecture of the Alps. A functional architecture in which granite, due to its resistance to low temperatures and weathering, paints the inhabited space a silver hue. An architecture of many influences that mixes the codes used by each of the peoples whose encounter among the peaks, meadows and forested areas, has given rise to a cosmopolitan and diverse culture. The 2017 Clique collection embodies this vision; setting off from these premises, it aims to convey its nomadic freedom, capable of reaching from the local dimension to grasp the magnitude of globalization processes.
Hole • Claudio Larcher
Puzzle • Claudio Larcher
Molletta • Filippo Protasoni
THE TECHNOLOGY.
T&D Robotics is an ABB integrator located in Carrara. It supplies robots to companies in the stone-working industry. The company’s clients – over 150 across the world – produce artworks, architectural elements and designer products. Numerous renovation projects have been made possible by the technical knowledge it has developed. Examples limited to the area of Milan include De Chirico’s Mysterious Baths and the steeples of the city’s cathedral. Robots have allowed designers and architects to turn their dreams into reality, and this is the mission shared by T&D Robotics which, in recent years, has supported the research conducted by the duo Larcher/Protasoni, contributing to the development of each piece and actively participating, along with its clients, to their production. For this edition, the involvement of Generelli S.A., a company that has always stood out for its construction skills and use of these technologies, has been instrumental.
Collection of table mirrors made from granite with robotic machining based on numerical techniques.