Cover Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, the duo behind studio Formafantasma and their exhibition during Milan Design Week
Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, the duo behind studio Formafantasma and their exhibition during Milan Design Week
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Milan-based design duo revolutionises surfaces with eco-friendly Silestone XM—Earthic, blending art and sustainability.
Formafantasma has carved a distinct niche in the design realm with thought-provoking creations that blend artistry with functionality. Headquartered in Milan, Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, the duo behind Formafantasma, have garnered international acclaim for their bold, boundary-pushing designs. With a diverse and dynamic portfolio that spans furniture, lighting and installations, they explore the interplay between culture, history, and contemporary environmental concerns.
Their latest collaboration with surfaces specialist Cosentino has resulted in a revolutionary new material under the brand’s latest category, Silestone XM—Earthic.
Read more: Milan Fair 2024: 9 enduring design trends shaping home interiors in the coming year
Against the surreal backdrop of their Milan Design Week exhibition, aptly titled Earthic Lab x Formafantasma, Tatler Homes delves into their creative trajectory and the compelling story behind this innovative alliance.
Above Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, the duo behind innovative studio Formafantasma
Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, the duo behind innovative studio Formafantasma
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Why is Formafantasma described as a research-based practice?
We don’t start with sketching, but with contextual observation and a study of the subject we are dealing with. For instance, in the case of this project, we didn’t start with a drawing or an illustration, but rather from the materials and the necessary research conducted with the engineering team of Cosentino to develop a more sustainable production process.
How did the collaboration with Cosentino come about?
It started two years ago and was motivated by a mutual interest in sustainability. We both wanted to do something meaningful and long-lasting. We had never really worked on this product typology. It was an interesting challenge because much of what we wanted to achieve was possible only in collaboration with the Cosentino engineering team.
See also: From mycelium floors to fruit peel lamps: The sustainable materials shaping eco-friendly design
Above The Earthic Lab exhibition at Milan’s Teatro Gerolamo turned Earthic’s origins into a spectacle for visitors
The Earthic Lab exhibition at Milan’s Teatro Gerolamo turned Earthic’s origins into a spectacle for visitors
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What are you most proud of about the Earthic collection?
The collection aims to raise awareness of the importance of design beyond aesthetics and prioritises sustainable production processes. We sought to find materials that would reduce the environmental impact, and the result was an advanced composition of premium minerals and up to 30 per cent recycled materials, including glass, plastic, bio-resin, and Dekton fragments. All three colours—light grey, dark grey, and anthracite—have white speckles from the recycled PET fragments.
This is also the first collection of Silestone XM, which has a maximum of 10 per cent of crystalline silica content. It’s also produced with 100 per cent renewable electrical energy and 99 per cent recycled water.
Don’t miss: 9 greenest skyscrapers in Asia
Above A balcony view of the installations in the theatre
A balcony view of the installations in the theatre
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How was designing this collection different from previous projects?
Here, the design process is from the inside out. We started with the materials because our goal was to introduce as much recycled material as possible. The aesthetic is the result of this process.
Read more: 11 animal design objects: From Bottega Veneta to vintage collectibles
Above A washbasin from the new Earthic collection
A washbasin from the new Earthic collection
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What is it like working as a duo?
We met during our BA in Florence, then started working together and applied for our Master’s at Design Academy in Eindhoven as a team. We have probably not yet found a perfect way of working. Everything is really organic. Usually, one of us gives the first input, and we immediately start working together on it, discussing it for hours!
We are not the type of designers who spend most of their time sketching forms—that is the last step. We learned this is quite unusual for designers, but we often write about our work in the middle of the process to refine our thinking as well as identify any weaknesses.
See also: 10 beautiful Michelin-starred restaurants by acclaimed designers worldwide
Above A kitchen employing the sustainable Earthic surfaces
A kitchen employing the sustainable Earthic surfaces
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What are the biggest challenges designers are facing these days?
Getting properly paid for their creativity! We also believe cities or private institutions should involve designers more in coming up with solutions for social issues or rethinking education, healthcare and retirement. These are the three major areas in which a different way of thinking is needed.
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Jennifer Choo is Regional Managing Editor of Tatler Homes, covering architecture, interior design, and art across Asia. Based in Malaysia, she oversees regional content on luxury residential design and contemporary art collections. Legally trained but choosing to pursue her passion for design, she previously led notable design publications and worked as an interior stylist and art consultant for property developers, design firms, and private clients.
