Damaso Mayer's San Francisco-based studio transforms discarded stone fragments into functional furniture pieces at this year's Milan Design Week, continuing the designer's commitment to material reuse.
The FRAGMENTS MILANO collection, installed at Villa Borsani as part of the Alcova exhibition, emerges from a partnership with Sacco Natural Stone in Italy's Chiavenna Valley. Mayer personally selected stone remnants destined for disposal, giving them new life in a series of functional objects.
The collection features tables, benches, and a tower sculpture that pair rough-edged stone with polished aluminum. These contrasting textures create a visual dialogue between the raw and refined, while the color palette reflects the surrounding Italian landscape with its lakes and mountains.
Metal surfaces appear to float around the stone pieces, creating an effect reminiscent of a minimalist, industrial terrazzo. The flat stone facades embedded within foggy aluminum surfaces highlight the inherent beauty in materials typically considered waste.
This Milan presentation builds on Mayer's previous exhibitions of the FRAGMENTS series, which included collaborations with quarries in California and Mexico. By working with local stone suppliers, the Mexico-born designer addresses both practical and philosophical concerns—reducing transportation emissions while emphasizing regional material character and craftsmanship.
The installation remains on view at Alcova – Villa Borsani through April 13, inviting visitors to reconsider the value of stone remnants and the possibilities of thoughtful material reuse.
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Andrea Darren
Born in Manchester, from a young age, she was passionate about art and design. She studied at the University of the Arts in London, where she developed her skills in these fields. Today, Andrea works as an editor for a renowned publishing house, combining her love for art and design with her editorial expertise.