Ulian and Ratti: 40x40

Italian designers Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti created 40x40, a collection of prototypes of products made ​​from discarted marble tiles.

What you can get from one marble tile 40 x 40cm? From the marble tiles found in dusty warehouses of our craft companies?

What things can be made by cutting with water jet machine, assembling simply the pieces without creating waste material? The trial on these issues has led to propose 7 items.

Paolo Ulian e Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Gerla

Thoughts in form of objects where the ethical reasons of the production process at least want to have the same relevance of their form and their function.

"Companies that work with this type of tile accumulate boxes and boxes of abandoned tiles that probably will never be sold. We decided to give them a second chance and turn them into pieces of furniture with a dignity”, they explain.

The collection was preceded by the presentation of PiùOmeno lamp, showed at the Triennale Design Museum in the exhibition “Italian design beyond the crisis”.

Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Gerla. A marble tile 40x40x4 cm thick is cut in a concentric way to obtain a series of oval marble rings with very thin thickness. These are superimposed to become a 40cm height vase. The slight grooves caused by waterjet cutting the pieces becomes a natural decoration that characterized the outer and inner surface of the vase. The piece of result is usable as a fruit bowl
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Gerla
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Gerla
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Gerla
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Layer. The quadrangular rings that make up the seat are obtained from two marble tiles 40x40x3 cm thick. The lid, which is also made from a marble tile can be lifted to use the bench also as a container.
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Layer
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Layer
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, O-ring. Just a marble tile 40x40x1 cm thick to get the rings necessary to make a fruit bowl light and roomy
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, O-ring
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, O-ring
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Piet. A small fruit bowl is made with four plates joint together. All parts are made by a marble tile 40x40x1 cm without any waste
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Piet
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Quadrondo. It ís made from a white marble tile 40x40x1 cm. On the tile are made the cuts by waterjet machine in order to allow the user the choice to transform or not the clock shape from square to round breaking parts precut
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Quadrondo
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Quadrondo
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Quadrondo
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Sfrid0. A coffee table is made up from two marble tiles 40x40x1 cm without waste. One tile to get the four pieces that make up the base, and one for the table top. It mounts easily with few joints.
Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, 40x40, Sfrid0