At MAXXI – National Museum of XXI Century Arts, Michele De Lucchi conceived L'anello Mancante (The Missing Ring), an installation in the form of an open ring.

The project consists of a metal tubular structure and a shingle cladding made of Hi-Macs, an acrylic stone conceived and produced by LG Hausys that can assume any shape.

With L’anello Mancante, the master of Italian design investigates the ambiguity of the relationship between man and nature and explores the new material's potential.

“The relationship between interior and exterior, between light and shadow, between hidden and revealed, between private and public is ambiguous,” says De Lucchi.

“The proportions are ambiguous because when you enter you have a perception of size that you can’t see from the outside.”

Hi-Macs shingles are made of acrylic, natural minerals and pigments that together create a smooth, non-porous surface.

They are made using a three-dimensional thermoplastic moulding process, which allows for designs without visible joints, with a virtually unlimited range of colours. The material also has a strength comparable to that of stone but is as easy to work with as wood.

The lack of pores makes the surfaces resistant to dirt and easy to clean, thus facilitating the maintenance of the structure.