When I hear the words “sculpted stone,” I’m reminded of the great art works of antiquity and the Renaissance: the towering pillars of the Forum; the collection of mythologically-themed statues outside the Uffizi; the imposing monolith of Michelangelo’s David. Nor have I ever ascribed the term to architecture and design—until now, that is, as the recent Muri di Pietra by manufacturer Lithos features immense modular pieces of impressively undulating stone.

Onda Sculpted Stone from the Muri di Pietra Collection. Designed by Raffaello Galiotto. Manufactured by Lithos Design.

Muri di Pietra is an Elegant, Modular Approach to Interior Walls

Designed by Raffaello Galiotto, Muri di Pietra (rough translation: “Wall of Stone”) is a triumph of technology merged with aesthetic daring-do, an intriguing confluence of functionality and stylistic moxie, a veritable tour de force melding the future and the past.

Lithos describes Muri di Pietra as “a modular collection consisting of four decorative self-supporting walls, where the solidity of stone goes hand in hand with the fluidity and lightness of the lines and perforations.” Therein lies the attraction and the paradox of the product, as Muri di Pietra manages to synthesize the best qualities of solidity and lightness.

The Muri di Pietra collection takes shape Under Galiotto’s able hand, with the technological assistance of 3D Matching. This means that Galiotto conceives of and carves the original form and shape, while the machinery does the rest—reproducing the four fabulously undulating shapes into modular elements that can be extended both vertically and horizontally.

The aforementioned four designs fall under the various rubrics of wavy (“Onda”), serpentine (“Traccia”), blocky (“Biblos”), and grid (“Griffio”). The various monikers of each incarnation are sufficiently descriptive in their own right, but this in one material that deserves to be experienced up close.

And that was the precise privilege of attendees at this year’s inaugural Beijing International Design Triennial, where Muri di Pietra wowed the wide-eyed throngs while demonstrating the achievement of both designer and manufacturer: “the solidity of stone goes hand in hand with the fluidity and lightness of the lines and perforations… in Muri di Pietra, you can see the passion for stone, the seamless teamwork between the company and the designer, supported by the ultimate technological know how.”

About the Manufacturer: A principal objective of Italy’s Lithos Design is to incorporate the use of technology into the ancient art of carving stone. Begun as the R&D arm of manufacturer Bevilacqua Marmi, the company boasts three decades of experience with stone design. Frequently collaborating with both Bevilacqua Marmi and accomplished designer Raffaello Galiotto, Lithos continues to advance and refine the 3D Matching techniques behind such awe-inspiring collections as Muri di Pietra.