Aqueous, iridescent, and sometimes enigmatic, metallic surfaces speak a venerable material language across myriad of applications. From the gilded molding found in Parisian interiors to the decaying tin ceilings of New York’s postindustrial discotheques, these precious panels build new architectural realities as they marry art and envelope. Materica – a premiere, luxury coating manufacturer out of Italy – adds to this storied history with its inaugural launch of decadent boiserie under the creative direction of Tiziano Guardini and Luigi Ciuffreda. Entitled the Superfici Venice Collection, this captivating assemblage is further enriched by design talents Matteo Cibic, Serena Confalonieri, DRAW Studio, Antonio Pio Saracino, STORAGEMILANO, and GuardiniCiuffreda Studio, who crafted signature styles out of the iconic medium.
Belle Nuit by GuardiniCiuffreda Studio in situ
Caigo by GuardiniCiuffreda Studio in situ
Some 40 years in the making, Materica has moved from trusted industry partner to fully realizing proprietary products. And while this debut marks an evolutionary moment for the Venetian brand, it also serves as a celebration of the company’s craftsmanship, inextricably linked to the territory’s production prowess.
STACK by Antonio Pio Saracino in situ.
MEDINA by Serena Confalonieri in situ
The profusely detailed, metallized modular system is fashioned from wooden boards that undergo high-speed castings and micronisation. Pure metals combine with oxidation, laser etching, resin coating, and natural pigmentations in alchemical processes to yield graphic patterns seemingly carved in low relief. Brass, bronze, copper, nickel, silver, aluminum, and zinc dazzle in a kaleidoscopic fantasia as users mix and match varied widths and finishes within each series.
STACK by Antonio Pio Saracino
STACK \\\ Antonio Pio Saracino
Slightly suggestive of Cubism, STACK utilizes the accumulation of forms and stratification as panels are assembled to create three-dimensional striations. Gentle lines, bold curves, and undulating volumes create a sculptural interior membrane. The height of the panel is customizable with several permutations up to a maximum of 400 centimeters or roughly 13 feet.
PRISMA by STORAGEMILANO
PRISMA \\\ STORAGEMILANO
Surface geometry transforms vertical modules into a sheet of prisms that create an environment awash in a spectacle of light and shadow. The clean lines and harmonious proportions complement a myriad of modern interiors and provide the utility of diffusing light. Every corner turned across each successive sheet, available in four widths, offers a new opportunity for perspective and reflection when engaging PRISMA.
MEDINA by Serena Confalonieri
MEDINA \\\ Serena Confalonieri
Equal parts charming and mysterious, MEDINA boasts beauty rooted in ancient East Asian cities referencing studded doors through its geometric patterns. Additional burgundy pigmentation lends depth and sophistication like a full-bodied wine. The timeless designs are available in 12 panels of varying dimensions and styles that offer a near-infinite number of combinations.
SIPARIO by Matteo Cibic
SIPARIO \\\ Matteo Cibic
Bold, burnished metallic flounces add an incredible amount of theater to any space outfitted with SIPARIO. The curious form portrays a moment frozen in time as curtains pause their motion allowing onlookers to explore every fold and drape. Depending on how one might catch it, the trompe l’oeil relief effect deceives the eye as much as it enchants, casting spells on all who behold it. Drama increases exponentially with every singular sheet added in a series.
MAGIC MIRROR by Draw Studio
MAGIC MIRROR \\\ Draw Studio
Art and design engage in a romantic tryst to conceive MAGIC MIRROR. Draw Studio references the works of Anish Kapoor distilling it through their lens for a delicate and fresh interpretation. The concave surfaces, sinuous curves, and sometimes ambiguous-looking oblong shapes create an air of mystery when standing in its presence. Available in three modular sizes, panels can be alternated for increased dynamism across any surface.
PATH by STORAGEMILANO
PATH \\\ STORAGEMILANO
At the eyes of the beholder, PATH’s labyrinthine layout seduces observers to embark on a sensorial journey tracing lines across its surface. This graphic motif is far more than decor, expressing carefully calculated movement as if to follow one’s stream of consciousness. With a variety of 18 panels, fluid lines can abruptly shift to changing currents and create interesting moments of visual vibration.
LEVANTINA by GuardiniCiuffedra Studio
LEVANTINA \\\ GuardiniCiuffedra Studio
Trading warp and weft for luster and opacity, textile tradition is reimagined as this boiserie in a new material story that continues the longstanding tradition or surface pattern design. Akin to aesthetics achieved with a loom, LEVANTINA recalls the Asian silks that portrayed velvety flowers and sinuous ribbons. Three modular panels can be alternated for couture composition.
LAGUNARE by GuardiniCiuffedra Studio
LAGUNARE \\\ GuardiniCiuffedra Studio
Like water, metal has memory taking on shape as it is assigned or flowing across objects to produce malleable surfaces or meandering flow around them. LAGUNARE is inspired by the Venice Lagoon marrying the marine element with modern lines for four modular panels. Together, the finish and pattern enhance reflection for the amplification of light in celebration of interior space just as the canals illuminate Venetian architecture.
CAIGO by GuardiniCiuffedra Studio
CAIGO \\\ GuardiniCiuffedra Studio
Perhaps the most narrative driven and romantic of the offering, CAIGO embodies the soul of Serenissima – a reference to ghost fleets of the maritime republic’s past. The metal’s material performance is subverted, nay enhanced, to articulate opacity and create a liminal space where optical illusions blur the line between this world and the next. Alternating any combination of the four ombré-like panels available harkens to a gentle, ethereal fog rolling in over the water.
BELLE NUIT by GuardiniCiuffedra Studio
BELLE NUIT \\\ GuardiniCiuffedra Studio
Continuing to build on the aquatic motif, BELLE NUIT draws the onlooker’s gaze into the gently lapping blues and blacks that create a jarring amount of depth on its surface. Intense, mysterious, and sometimes brooding, this colorway looks to foster quiet and contemplation. Rippling waters or complete calm, the four organic surface patterns available can be mixed and matched to stage any level of desired intensity.
To learn more about the the process, product, or material prowess visit materica.eu.
Photography provided by Materica.
