A world renowned research project that redefines ceramics through its history. In a world saturated by chimaeras of globalisation the Hybrid project is a reflection on how our diverse historical cultures can help us create a common meaningful future. Starting from a collection of tableware reflecting on the traditional production of Chinese and European porcelain and its centuries of cross-fertilisation, the project has grown to encompass more paradigms and cultures…
A long-lasting collaboration that involves exterior/interior design as well as art direction for a resort truly in tune with nature. Inspired by Chalkidiki’s unique ecosystem, where rounded stone volumes and pine trees are in direct contact with the sea, we strived to develop creative solutions that underline nature’s presence and invite visitors to reflect on their relationship with it. Exterior spaces and treehouse The typical Mediterranean Pine tree (Pinus Pinea),…
A collection of geologically informed everyday items, cast in concrete and characterised by earthen tones. Stratification is the overlapping of various mineral compositions, where the upper layers are younger than the ones under them, showing the passing of time in stacks of diverse deposits. The Mediterranean basin is home to a multitude of diverse geological phenomena, with a rich story of sedimentation, erosion, and strong volcanic activity, all of which…
A modular storage system inspired by rhythm and (a)symmetry, designed for the Italian brand MOGG. The pieces are composed of iron rod in burnished or titanium finishing, with glass shelves in bronze or green reflective finish. The simple structure utilises the industrial processing of the cadenced rod, in diverse diameters, according to a rhythmic partition. The essential volume is delineated thanks to the match of straight lines: the rhythm is…
An ongoing research redefining the concept of wallpapers through artistic murals. The mural is the oldest painting technique, because walls were the first painting surface that humans worked on. In the contemporary era, mural art finds in wallpapers a partner: both of them stand on walls and both of them need water and paint to take shape. Having this in mind we developed wallpapers that take over the role of…
A creative journey where we orchestrated an eclectic brand since its inception, expanding into a multitude of expressions. From alternative design objects, futuristic exhibitions, theatrical performances, artistic events and numerous collaborations, our art direction for JCP Universe has been an innovative space where culture meets commerce. A fusion between art and design, the brand’s creations blend classic and contemporary style in a surprising new idiom that defies the norms. The…
A selection of the pieces that we designed throughout the years during our collaboration with JCP Universe. The archetypal forms of the pieces and the careful selection of their components reflect the aeons of cosmic transformation that gave life to everything we perceive. The focus is placed upon the mutable essence of nature, merging innovation with tradition in a new genre of objects that become vehicles of imagination for us…
The art direction of a second-hand market that invites people to look at things with a new perspective in order to give them a second life, supporting awareness of environmental protection and embracing an eco-friendly lifestyle. The market days also host a variety of meetings, exhibitions and performances where diverse people will present their alternatives relating to a less impactful lifestyle and workshops related to sustainability. Discover more on :…
A series of carpets that explores a variety of themes connecting humans with their domestic and natural environment. Forcing a change of perspective, our creations for YO2 invite people to reflect on what is hidden in plain sight. Discover more on : yo2.io Coral Loss | 2019A series of carpets that investigates the wonderful nature of corals and their terrible fate. Coral bleaching is a tangible sign…
The direction of a creative lab, aiming to create points of reflection through projects in the dream sphere for an increasingly conscious culture of living. Starting from ONIRO Group’s identity, ONIRO Lab’s aim is to investigate the multiple facets of the world of dreams through different disciplines, starting from the current psychological/cognitive research but also its expressions in the creative world (literature, visual arts, cinema, etc). Discover more on :…
The creation and development of a jewellery brand that focuses on the art of silversmithing, merging tradition with innovation. Born in the city of Ioannina (Greece), the new brand Granes focuses on the bespoke craft of silver pieces combining traditional techniques like casting, forging, carving and filigree with new digital technologies. Silversmithing is an art that has never ceased to thrive in Greece – from antiquity…
The art direction of a brand where cannabis acts a symbol of an alternative approach to life. Nowadays we finally understand that our actions influence everything around us and that we need a new sustainable lifestyle that is slower and more conscious. A lifestyle connected to nature on more than one level. Erba del Chianti is a brand that promotes exactly this lifestyle having as a paradigm the prodigious plant…
A novel pain treatment centre located in the city of Ioannina, in the north of Greece. The centre’s approach, under the guidance of Dr Patty Gatziani, Algiatrist and specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, aims to comfort and manage pain, placing focus on educating patients to acquire body awareness and improve their lifestyle. For this special project CTRLZAK was asked to come up with a solution that would make patients…
A research project on the issue of species extinction and the loss of biodiversity caused by humans. Extinction by definition is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms (taxon), normally a species. Most great extinction events in the past are caused by ’normal’ evolutionary dynamics (glaciations, volcanic eruptions and other unpredictable natural events such as the collision of an asteroid) but the long course of extinctions…
A book exploring CTRLZAK Studio’s work from its inception in 2009 until 2017. The selection of projects and related material takes the reader on an creative journey from humanity’s diverse cultural pasts, to contemporary society’s ironic present while proposing a future of a conscious world that realises its place within the cosmos.With critical essays by : M. Arapoglou, C. Morozzi & A. Zanchetta Book design : Susami Creative…
An installation about water created in collaboration with JCP Universe, for the Design on Water exhibition by Luisa via Roma, on the river Arno. The installation enhances the essence and the importance of water in its multiple forms. The visitor becomes involved using all his senses in an experiential journey of transparencies and reflections. To look, listen and taste water are some of the implemented actions in Waterness; a path of…
A project that explores the microorganisms found in food and water but that are normally invisible to the naked eye. The project is based on the enlarged representation of certain radiolarians and mycetes that were carefully selected and arranged in order to be printed on fabric. The patterns created for aprons, kitchen towels, tablecloths and napkins are thus inspired by the micro-ecosystem that we live with every day. At the…
A piece of artistic design that is as iconic as it is ironic. Since ancient times people have come up with ways to safekeep their most precious possessions. Centuries ago in Greece and Rome, Egypt and even China containers with intricate mechanisms were devised all with one purpose: safeguard their content. Safes and vaults are still used nowadays and are now more intricate and complex than ever, even though the…
An exhibition examining various scenarios of a ’hybrid future’, stemming from the studio’s research on cross-cultural contamination. Starting from the history of porcelain and moving on to the world of textiles the various projects undertaken focused primarily on two ancient cultures: the European and the Chinese. A selection of this body of work was presented at Spaziootto a Sino-Italian space in Milan between December 2014 and January 2015. The exhibition,…
A contemplative piece that crystallises the perception of time. Time is something that cannot be seen, cannot be touched, smelled or be tasted. How is it then that we can visualise this vague concept within the physical space that we perceive with our senses? Hegel in the first section of his book “The Philosophy of Nature” (§257) says: “Space ‘is’ time, that is time is the ‘truth’ of space”. In…
A space dedicated to the world of tango. Femme Fanatique’s shoes are designed with passion and are entirely handmade by specialised artisans. The design presents these exact elements, interpreting the essence and the posture of the dance while emphasising at the same time the process and the quality of the product. Technique and improvisation, discipline and creativity are the elements that within the space of an embrace form the true nature…
A carpet collection merging European with Tibetan rug traditions. Known for its hybrid modus operandi, CTRLZAK studio has been invited by carpet producer cc-tapis to work on a collection that reflects traditional values, recomposing them in contemporary forms. The result of this collaboration is the collection of three carpets Cross(me)Knot, one piece of which was initially presented at Maison & Objet and Domotex, where it won the Best Innovation award.
A project that focuses on the historical chair archetypes between Europe and China. An interesting example of parallel design history is found between the Rocchetto style European chair and the Deng gua (Lamp hanger) Chinese chair. Both chairs have existed for centuries and were used initially by the rich as general use chairs, ending up eventually in common people’s houses where they can still be found nowadays.
A concept store located in the island of Mykonos which brings together historical replicas from various Greek archaeological museums. CTRLZAK studio is responsible for the entire design concept, which can be broken down to three main axes: stratification, excavation sites and museological representation. These themes were approached in different ways independently and then grouped together through the use of materials/colours and lighting. The central display area consists of white asymmetric…
Monumentale is a collection inspired by Italian architectural heritage. The collection aims to promote cultural knowledge and the familiarisation with Italian heritage around the table through a series of different designs. Each object is characterised by a particular pattern corresponding to different floor plans and elevations of buildings selected for their historical value and location in the Italian territory. The collection has won the first prize awarded by the Italian…
A project of symbolic design about the ephemeral nature of mass produced objects. The culinary act, seen as an occasion of encounter, has been the first form of ritual: a pagan customary practice that has transcended to what is known as the Christian sacrament of the Eucharist. “Take and eat, this is my body; I am the bread of life, he who comes to me will never go hungry,…
An eclectic armchair project inspired by nature’s geometry. Quartz is a system that couples two-dimensional pentagonal and hexagonal wooden structures, which develop in three dimensions following natural crystalloid formations. The geometric volumes are covered with ecological fabrics in mixed colour variations producing an end result that resembles more a wild microhabitat than an armchair. The Quartz armchair is produced by Italian company D3CO. Discover more on :…
An exhibition specifically conceived for the space of the Moroni mansion in Bergamo old town with the scope of discovering and reliving it through a multitude of viewpoints. The Hybrid porcelain collection, the CeramiX Art collection, the fabrics of the Flagmented project and a sound installation designed specifically for the occasion interact with the traditional furnishings and objects already present in the space. Within the halls of the palace the…
An artistic research project on the textile traditions of Europe and China, resulting in a series of works which integrate traditional fabrics from both cultures. The project represents a possible future able to surpass normal cultural borders and expressions. Classical European embroidery and Toile de Jouy are coupled with traditional Chinese fabrics forming unique pieces that stitch together the two diverse realities. The unexpected results mark a new era of…
Two furniture pieces inspired by a symbolic buddhist tradition. On a mountain near a Buddhist temple Thanos & Katia discovered a peculiar practice: tiny sticks placed underneath massive boulders, appearing to support them but too small to bear the stone’s weight. Three years later this has been the inspiration for CTRLZAK’s D\Zen project, in which this meeting of great weight and delicacy takes the form of two different pieces of…
A series of ceramic objects designed alongside the Art collection as a self-produced project. The set comprises a plate, a bowl and a cup all in white glazed ceramic. This collection underlines some of the formal characteristics identified during the initial research of cross-fertilisation between Western and Eastern aesthetics, and applies them within the design process. The result is a series of tableware which employs contemporary forms to symbolise a…
A new approach to the concept of optic stores. Designed in such a way as to meet the demands of the contemporary market, while setting the framework for new trends. Everything works in unison to create a seamless result full of connotations and hidden meanings while providing good functional solutions : specialised furniture, custom-made display areas, stainless steel mesh structures to complement accessories. The result is a radical yet simple…
A series of items inspired by the medical world reflecting upon the symbolic and functional issues of objects. Users are invited to coexist with atypical pieces that one would find difficult to accept in everyday life, undoubtedly disassociated from the usual concept of well-being. Tables, chairs and lamps are ‘afflicted’ with diverse pathologies; an ironic operation which goes beyond the aesthetics of the products and refers to the ephemeral conditions…
