De Castelli and the metamorphosis of metal
De Castelli has an extraordinary power: he molds and shapes metal so it can take on unexpected profiles and textures, in a metamorphosis that challenges its typical hardness and solidity. To borrow the definition given to one of his pieces of furniture, it is an oxymoron of aesthetics, where heaviness and lightness come together in perfect balance.
All this is possible thanks to the design wisdom of De Castelli and of the designers with whom he collaborates, as well as the artisan rounding and hammering techniques. But also because of the brass, steel and copper finishes, with natural, polished or oxidized effects that create the fascinating light-dark contrasts of chiaroscuro, enhancing geometry and depth. For this reason, almost like living entities, his furniture has the ability to change its shape, especially that of the new Biomorphic project presented at the Salone del Mobile 2022.
Everything comes from small pieces of brass obtained from "shattered" sheet metal, the fragments of which are immersed in marble and become like petals that radiate from the center as they float on the surface. The oval top of the Vela table is where the magic happens, in Venetian terrazzo made of white marble, crafted in collaboration with Laboratorio Morseletto, perfect for enhancing the different facets of metal. It rests on a base with an entirely different dimensionality: a truncated cone sculpture that takes on sinuous folds, conveying lightness and solidity at the same time. Design: R&D De Castelli.
Luca Pevere was inspired by the art of origami. Thus he designed the Coste collection of tables and coffee tables with sharp, precise geometric shapes. The main feature is the conical trunk at the centre: a module in steel, brass or copper, folded with great technique and skills, generating a juxtaposed series of isosceles triangles. The faces show different oxidation tones and, thus, shades that stimulate visual perception. The circular top appears to be only just resting on the pointed tips of the triangles.
The Plateaux of Mirror is the minimalist table par excellence. It consists of only three elements: a thick rectangular top that rests on two large concave semi-cylinders that function as the bases, each mirroring one another. Elisa Ossino's design presents essential, monolithic lines that emphasize the metal material to the fullest.
Francesco Forcellini's choice of name for this piece was not random. Sculpt is a cabinet "sculpted" in metal, shaped with masterful hammering and rounding techniques. The lines that frame the cabinet are rigorous, while the doors take on a three-dimensional volume: because of their soft yet well-sculpted concavities, wonderful games of light and shadow play upon its surface.
A cabinet, a console, and a compact mobile bar. Canneto is a collection by Adriano Design, presenting a series of fine and elegant storage furniture. The charm radiates from the upholstery: brushed metal rods (copper, brass or steel) juxtaposed and of different diameters - recalling a reed bed. The upper surface, also in metal, is slightly lower than the doors and the perimeter, highlighting the frame in black walnut, which also enhances the interior shelves of the cabinet and the console. Barista, on the other hand, which opens just like a book, has a mirror-finished stainless steel interior that multiplies liquors and glasses, evoking the atmosphere typical of a club or café.
Depending on how you look at it, Ori takes on new roles, becoming a number of different objects. If you give it a careful, close look, for example, it will give the impression of having caught a glimpse of a jewel: a gem or diamond set in a brass structure. In reality, the former is a detachable cushion with a removable fabric, while the latter is a metal frame, cut and shaped as only De Castelli knows how to do. Together, they create the pouf designed by Stormo Studio, an extremely precious piece not only for its name, but also thanks to the choice of materials and expert craftsmanship.
The company that designs and produces it, defines Botero as having "an aesthetic oxymoron". The oxymoron is the union of both slender and generous volumes. The result, however, is a perfect balance between the five slender legs and the rounded surface. The side table comes to life as a result of the technical and design expertise together with the mastery of metal rounding techniques by De Castelli. The central opening of the top enhances curves and geometry.
Hephaestus, in Greek mythology, is the god of blacksmiths, sculptors, craftsmen, metallurgy, and fire. It couldn't be called anything else, the Efesto by Martinelli Venezia, a stool made with a unique triangular cross section with no mechanical joints, yet able to support heavy weights thanks to the great knowledge of those who designed it. De Castelli, then, added its own unique touch by bending and hammering the brass sheet. The polished finish enhances all of this, as well as recalling once again the golden elegance of the Hellenic world.
A metal tray on a marble monolithic base. Between Nature celebrates De Castelli's collaboration with the Margraf Innovation Lab, from which it selects the marble of the IPOGEO collection. But also of that with Stormo Studio, which conceives the coffee table as a representation of the forces and elements of nature coming together, manifesting themselves in the artifact. The metal trays, available in a variety of shapes, seem to float on the marble surfaces as if they were floating on water.
Surface réfléchissante, cadre métallique au diamètre exagéré. Brame surprend et séduit, en raison de l'asymétrie des deux cercles non concentriques et du jeu d'ombre et de lumière donné par les différents tons d'oxydation du métal. Mais en même temps, sa forme concave enveloppe non seulement le miroir qu'il encadre, mais aussi la personne à qui il fait miroir, suggérant l'accueil et l'introspection. Design: R&D De Castelli.
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