the ‘hives’ brick from mutina borrows the intricate and expandable structure of a beehive

 

italian brand mutina has recently commissioned konstantin grcic to design ‘hives’, a hexagonal terracotta brick with almost limitless expandability. inspired by beehives, one of nature’s most intricate patterns, the 3D material offers an incredible range of possible structures and configurations — from walls to columns, counters, furniture, dividers, and much more.  

konstantin grcic's hexagonal brick module for mutina has almost infinite expandability
all images © mutina

 

 

eco-friendly and textured block made from terracotta

 

konstantin grcic (see more here) shaped the ‘hives’ brick for mutina (see more here) as a standard 13×22.5.x7 cm module. using the artisanal technique of extrusion and an eco-friendly mixture, the duo created a 3D element that stands out with its warm tone, tactile surface, and strong thermal and acoustic properties — all unique features of terracotta.

konstantin grcic's hexagonal brick module for mutina has almost infinite expandability

 

 

versatile, functional, and highly aesthetic

 

the terracotta brick can be installed in different ways: upright (vertically) or flat (horitzontally), laid flush or staggered. this flexible configuration is ideal for creating curved walls for various structures such as table legs, columns, and counters.

in short, mutina’s ‘hives’ is an exceptionally functional and versatile solution designed for an array of architectural features. even more, thanks to its unusual shape, the product also becomes a highly decorative material capable of generating possibly infinite types of graphical patterns.

konstantin grcic's hexagonal brick module for mutina has almost infinite expandability

konstantin grcic's hexagonal brick module for mutina has almost infinite expandability

konstantin grcic's hexagonal brick module for mutina has almost infinite expandability

konstantin grcic's hexagonal brick module for mutina has almost infinite expandability   

konstantin grcic's hexagonal brick module for mutina has almost infinite expandability

konstantin grcic's hexagonal brick module for mutina has almost infinite expandability 

 

 

 

project info:

 

name: hives

design: konstantin grcic for mutina