At the 60th edition of Marmomac, Hall 10 at Veronafiere became one of the key spaces where natural stone was presented beyond its purely commercial and productive dimension. Under the new overarching concept “THE BEDROCK – Leading the Future of Natural Stone”, the space hosted an extensive programme of exhibitions, architectural installations, awards, lectures and educational activities from September 22 to 25.
Curated by architect Giorgio Canale, the new format of Hall 10 was conceived as a meeting point for architecture, design, research and industry. According to Marmomac, THE BEDROCK marks a new phase for the exhibition’s cultural and experimental programme, presenting natural stone not only as a construction material, but also as a medium for design, cultural expression and research into the future of the sector.
At the centre of this approach was PANTHEON, the installation created to mark Marmomac’s 60th anniversary. Fifteen monumental columns, each composed of four different stone slabs, brought together 60 surfaces from different regions of the world, creating a direct reference to the exhibition’s six decades. The installation was conceived as an architectural landscape through which visitors could experience the different textures, colours, reflections and geological identities of the materials within a single composition.
Exhibitions connecting stone with contemporary design
Around PANTHEON, a series of thematic exhibitions and research projects explored different approaches to the use and interpretation of natural stone.
“ON STONE – Learning from Lessinia”, curated by architect and critic Joseph Grima, focused on the relationship between stone, local traditions, sustainability and contemporary approaches to the material. The project also examined how research and new technologies can contribute to reducing waste and finding new uses for residues generated by quarrying and stone processing.
Giuseppe Fallacara presented “C’era una volta il ‘cielo’ dell’architettura – New research on vaulted lithic space”, a research project exploring vaulted stone structures and the possibility of reinterpreting historical architectural principles through contemporary techniques and design methods. The academic investigation was combined with a strong architectural and sculptural presence within the exhibition space.
“Marble Interiors”, curated by Davide Fabio Colaci, presented ten contemporary interior architecture projects, exploring the ways in which marble and other natural stones are being incorporated into contemporary spaces.
Meanwhile, “Carisma Materico”, curated by designer Raffaello Galiotto, presented four large-scale installations investigating the relationship between digital processing, mechanical precision and the expressive potential of stone. The exhibition explored the dialogue between structural and decorative qualities, as well as between precision, weight and tactile expression.
At the Stone Next area, “La Casa di Pietra” presented experimental student projects developed in collaboration with the University of Pisa and the Associazione Le Donne del Marmo, exploring new applications for stone through industrial design.
The Bedrock Forum at the centre of the institutional programme
The central The Bedrock Forum provided the setting for several of the most significant institutional events of the 60th edition. The official opening ceremony of Marmomac took place there on September 22, alongside presentations, award ceremonies and international meetings involving professionals and organisations from the natural stone sector.
The programme also included the Masters of Stone awards and other initiatives highlighting the connection between Marmomac, the history of stone, technical expertise and the international industry.
Particular attention was given to the new International Award for Sustainable Excellence, established in collaboration with the University of Verona. The award focused on sustainability, responsible resource use and practices aimed at supporting the development of a more responsible natural stone industry.
Hall 10 also hosted the Pinnacle Tribute of the Natural Stone Institute, together with presentations involving international organisations and initiatives, including the Turkish Stone programme of the Istanbul Mineral Exporters Association.
From Carlo Ratti to Marmomac Academy
Education and knowledge transfer were another important component of the Hall 10 programme. The Marmomac Academy brought together architects, designers, researchers and industry professionals for a series of lectures and sessions examining the relationship between natural stone, contemporary architecture, technology and material preservation.
The programme opened with Carlo Ratti’s Lectio Magistralis, entitled “From Material to Code: Digital Fabrication and the Future of Making”, focusing on the relationship between material, digital design and new approaches to production.
The programme also included “ON STONE – Learning from Lessinia”, presented by Joseph Grima, while Giuseppe Fallacara explored new approaches to vaulted lithic structures. Other sessions addressed subjects including the use of natural stone as a medium for emotionally driven design, in collaboration with Aria Stone Gallery, as well as contemporary approaches to preserving the aesthetic qualities of stone.
The presentation “From Quarry to Construction Site”, focusing on Sardinia, brought the future of quarrying, sustainability and education within local quarrying activities into the discussion, connecting architecture and design with the starting point of the natural stone supply chain.
A space where stone was presented as both material and cultural heritage
The structure of Hall 10 at the 60th edition of Marmomac reflected a broader direction within the exhibition: connecting natural stone with the entire ecosystem shaping its future, from quarrying and processing technologies to architecture, design, academic research and sustainability.
Through THE BEDROCK, the exhibitions and installations were not presented as isolated cultural projects, but as different points of departure for exploring the material itself and its evolving role. PANTHEON symbolically connected six decades of Marmomac with the global diversity of natural stone, while the projects curated by Grima, Fallacara, Colaci and Galiotto explored new possibilities for the material in architecture and design.
In the context of the milestone 60th edition, Hall 10 therefore served as a space where natural stone was presented simultaneously as material, technology, subject of research, architectural language and cultural expression, highlighting Marmomac’s broader effort to bring together tradition, innovation and new approaches to production and design.
