totemic sculptures compose volcanic stone landscape for site-specific installation in naples

TANAT x Ranieri Lava Stone build Volcanic Landscape for EDIT Cult

Landscape of Reflections marks the first collaboration between Mexico City–based architect Diego R. Borrell, founder of TANAT, and Ranieri Lava Stone, a company specializing in the transformation of volcanic rock. Presented at EDIT Cult, the project examines the relationship between geography, material processes, and cultural context within contemporary architectural practice.

The installation is conceived as a volcanic stone landscape composed of sculptural totemic elements and small-scale architectural forms. Developed during Borrell’s research residency in Naples and Pompeii in July 2025, the work brings together fragments drawn from his observations of the region’s geological and urban conditions. These components reference Naples’ layered histories, accumulated symbols, and natural features, translating them into a spatial composition that combines material presence with abstract interpretation.

Craft, culture, and Geology Converge in Landscape of Reflections

Curated by BY Galería de Arquitectura, Landscape of Reflections establishes a dialogue between Naples and Mexico City, two cities connected by their volcanic origins. The installation, designed by architectural studio TANAT, reduces and reinterprets the scale of the city, the volcano, and the gulf, creating a compact environment in which material and symbolic elements coexist. At the conclusion of its exhibition period, the ensemble will be disassembled, with each piece becoming an independent element derived from the original unified setting.

Ranieri Lava Stone, a specialist in volcanic stone, plays an integral role in the project, contributing its technical knowledge and craftsmanship in fabrication. The collaboration positions the material not only as a medium but also as an active component of the design process, linking traditional Neapolitan artisanal techniques with contemporary experimentation.

project info:

name: Landscape of Reflections
designer: TANAT | @l_tanat_l

design team: Diego Rivero Borrell, Lucía Lozano, Mariana Estrada

partner: Ranieri Lava Stone | @ranierilavastone

curator: BY Galería de Arquitectura (Francesca Borgonovo, Luis Young) | @by.galeria

communication: Giulia Castelli

event: EDIT Cult | @edit.napoli

location: Castel Sant’Elmo, Naples, Italy

photographer: César Bejar | @cesarbejarstudio