Marmomacc, the premier international exhibition of natural stone products and processing took place in Verona early in October. With 1500 companies exhibiting their wares it covered the widest possible spectrum of the natural stone industry, ranging from the material itself through natural-stone products to techniques and machinery for working the stone.

Pibamarmi's stand made of solid marble at Marmomacc 2010

A look back at the Marmomacc natural stone fair in Verona | Novità

Pibamarmi's stand made of solid marble at Marmomacc 2010

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Piba Marmi is located very close to Verona and specialises in bathrooms made of high quality natural stone. For its latest "Saturnia" collection, which consists of limestone, marble and Pietra Serena, the grey sandstone which is Italian in origin, Piba Marmi worked in cooperation with the designer Philippe Nigro. With the Japanese designer Hikaru Mori the company produced the collection "Stone likes Water", which contains both organically shaped and geometrical washbasins, bathtubs and shower trays, together with benches. Hikaru Mori selected the natural stone types of travertine, limestone and marble for his designs.

For its latest "Saturnia" collection, Piba Marmi collaborated with the designer Philippe Nigro

A look back at the Marmomacc natural stone fair in Verona | Novità

For its latest "Saturnia" collection, Piba Marmi collaborated with the designer Philippe Nigro

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Hikaru Mori's collection for Piba Marmi

A look back at the Marmomacc natural stone fair in Verona | Novità

Hikaru Mori's collection for Piba Marmi

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In Patricia Urquiola as the designer Budri manage to acquire a strong collaborator, who brought new life to the company's products with her a modern design idiom and made full use of its modern production facilities. After the sons of the founder took over Budri its entire operations were reorganised, with major investment in modern production machinery such as, for example, a cutting machine operating with ultra-high water pressure.

With Patricia Urquiola as designer, Budri have managed to acquire a strong collaborator

A look back at the Marmomacc natural stone fair in Verona | Novità

With Patricia Urquiola as designer, Budri have managed to acquire a strong collaborator

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Urquiola's design for "Macrosteria" seems to be a bionic quotation, a microscopy of the composition of the stone in the form of a million-fold enlargement of the hexagonal honeycomb shape of the molecules.

Urquiola's "Macrosteria" installation looks like an organic question mark

A look back at the Marmomacc natural stone fair in Verona | Novità

Urquiola's "Macrosteria" installation looks like an organic question mark

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The stand occupied by the firm of Marsotto, which is also located in the Verona region, was entirely faced with thin slabs of marble. In the interior of the 'marble house' this created an impressive effect because the slabs are translucent and as it penetrates them the light brings out the beautiful veins of the marble. Marsotto specialises in exclusive natural stone fittings for hotels, cruise ships, shops and private residences.

Marsotto's stand was completely covered with thin pieces of marble

A look back at the Marmomacc natural stone fair in Verona | Novità

Marsotto's stand was completely covered with thin pieces of marble

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"Onda" by Marsotto, realised in Granito Nero Assoluto

A look back at the Marmomacc natural stone fair in Verona | Novità

"Onda" by Marsotto, realised in Granito Nero Assoluto

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Equally impressive were the surfaces created by Lithos Design. The designer Raffaello Galiotto studied art before he began working for the furniture industry and specialised in plastic outdoor furniture. He has been able to transfer the know-how he collected there about creating three-dimensional forms to a different material – natural stone. Lithos has received a number of awards for his highly plastic and sculptural designs.

Lithos has received a number of awards for his highly plastic and sculptural designs

A look back at the Marmomacc natural stone fair in Verona | Novità

Lithos has received a number of awards for his highly plastic and sculptural designs

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Highly sculptural: natural-stone surfaces created by Lithos Design

A look back at the Marmomacc natural stone fair in Verona | Novità

Highly sculptural: natural-stone surfaces created by Lithos Design

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Honeycomb relief by Lithos Design

A look back at the Marmomacc natural stone fair in Verona | Novità

Honeycomb relief by Lithos Design

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The firm of Franchiumbertomarmi summed up the credo of the marble industry with its slogan "Thinking on a big scale". From marble quarries the company produces impressively sized blocks in the varieties gioia moschettato, goia miele and bianco ordinazio and specialises in turning them in to large-scale objects. In addition Franchiumbertomarmi also offer high-quality natural stone from other locations.

From marble quarries Franchiumbertomarmi produces impressively sized blocks and specialises in turning them into large-scale objects

A look back at the Marmomacc natural stone fair in Verona | Novità

From marble quarries Franchiumbertomarmi produces impressively sized blocks and specialises in turning them into large-scale objects

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"Big-Mac" oversize flower pot, designed by Luisa Bocchietto for Franchiumbertomarmi

A look back at the Marmomacc natural stone fair in Verona | Novità

"Big-Mac" oversize flower pot, designed by Luisa Bocchietto for Franchiumbertomarmi

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The firm of Antolini Luigi obviously wanted to make sure that those who had seen too much hard rock didn't turn to stone themselves and provided an impressive spectacle at its stand, with two angelic 'veline', as the glamorous Italian TV-show girls are named, made sure that visitors were kept in the right mood. Sex sells.

Showgirls swinging above a natural-stone pool: Antolini Luigi's stand

A look back at the Marmomacc natural stone fair in Verona | Novità

Showgirls swinging above a natural-stone pool: Antolini Luigi's stand

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