ymer&malta: marbre poids plume – marble designs

ymer&malta: marbre poids plume images courtesy of ymer&malta

mabre pods plume ymer&malta, paris, france january 15-march 15, 2011

studio ymer&malta has opened in paris with its first theme-based exhibition, called ‘mabre pods plume’. the show, whose name literally translates to ‘feather weight marble’, encourages designers to rethink and challenge the forms and attributes traditionally associated with the material in order to create the lightest objects out of marble.

‘void stool’ by a+a cooren

the ‘void stool’ by paris based duo a+a correen was designed to use the smallest mass of marble possible. by hollowing the center out, the stool adopts both a physical and visual lightness.

‘orbit spot’ by a+a cooren

also by a+a correen is ‘orbit’ a spotlight that balances on its center of gravity. the small light can be positioned differently, allowing the user to play with various positions to suit their needs. the transparency of the marble lends itself well to producing either oblique or more vertical light.  available in black or white marble, the light which is available in three sizes – small, medium or large – uses LED lamps.

‘disamare – gamme de trois étagères’ by cedric ragot

paris based designer, cedric ragot has created ‘disamare – gamme de trois étagères’, a series of three shelves, available in black or white marble, that seem to twist and contort in order to secure themselves to the wall. the design is pared down to the limit of the material, exploring the characteristics of the marble and minimizing itself as much as possible.

‘flap – lampe’ by cedric ragot

‘clé – guérido’ by cedric ragot

‘anneaux’ by normal studio

normal studio out of france has designed two pieces for the show, ‘anneaux’ and ‘vacuum’. the ‘anneaux’ bowls are composed of a flat v-shaped profile that is formed into the ring. it is as thin as marble can be with its thickness diminished to only a few millimeters on the edge. the object appears as if it is floating off of the table with a lightness not common in traditional solid marble pieces.

detail of ‘anneaux’

‘vacuum’ by normal studio

‘vacuum’ by normal studio

‘still quiet plane’ is a combined shelf and lamp by benjamin graindorge that seemingly floats. the design, which is composed of a glowing form that rises from the linear marble shelves leaves the viewer unaware of how the system is affixed to the wall or where the light source is coming from.

‘still quiet plane’ by benjamin graindorge

‘still quiet plane’ by benjamin graindorge

benjamin graindorge says of his design ‘sweethorizon’:

‘obviously I am not interested in the technical achievement but in the sensuality its demanding nature brings. the level of lightness one reaches when marble is pared down to almost nothing makes it seem like skin, its transparency, veins and softness make it into something sensual.’

‘sweet horizon’ by benjamin graindorge