Studio Lievito turns waste marble into urban furniture
Florence-based Studio Lievito presents Marmifere, transforming quarry waste marble from Tuscany into interactive micro-architectural urban furniture.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Studio Lievito creates Marmifere using leftover marble waste from quarrying activities
- The first module features a concave seat and an integrated climbing wall with recycled plastic holds
- The second block mimics quarry terraces to offer staggered levels of seating
- The design pays homage to Italian architectural avant-garde visions and the Apuan Alps
Florence-based Studio Lievito has unveiled Marmifere, a new series of monolithic micro-architectural pieces that reinterpret the Ravaneti, which are the massive piles of marble waste left behind by quarrying operations. The project serves as an invitation for urban dwellers to rest, relax, contemplate, and interact with their surrounding environment.
The first module in the series features a concave, hollowed profile on one side that mimics mountain erosion, forming an organic reclined seat for passers-by. On the reverse side, the solid surface functions as an inclined climbing wall equipped with recycled plastic holds specifically designed for children to explore.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Running through the core of the structure is a hollow cavity that references railway entrance tunnels. When multiple modules are aligned next to each other, these internal cavities join together to form miniature tunnels for children to crawl through and play inside.
Reusing industrial byproducts for public infrastructure highlights a growing movement in contemporary design towards circular economy principles. By transforming rough quarry remnants into civic furniture, designers can bridge the gap between heavy industrial heritage and everyday community engagement, offering both sculptural beauty and practical utility in urban spaces.
Meanwhile, the second module draws direct inspiration from quarry terraces, replicating the geometric progression of ledges and steps carved directly into rock faces. This translates into staggered seating levels that provide diverse perspectives within the urban landscape, while retaining the rear climbing structure and integrated tunnel features.
Rooted deeply in the morphology of the Apuan Alps in Tuscany, Italy, the design pays homage to Ugo La Pietra's radical experimentation and Archizoom's avant-garde vision. These sculptural stone elements ultimately reconnect users with the precious heritage and authentic history of the Italian mountain landscape.
Source: designboom
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