Collaborations

Built-in

Matter, space and use: a constructed balance

Built-in originates as a reflection on the relationship between natural stone, design and use, exploring the boundary between object and architecture. Not a simple table, but a system that occupies space in a unified way, where structure, seating and tabletop become a single, coherent presence. In this balance between formal research and constructive pragmatism, natural stone is not a surface finish, but the foundational element of the project.

Credits: Matteo Bianchessi

The expressive strength of Ceppo Nagelfluh

A German conglomerate with a strong material identity, Ceppo Nagelfluh is an exclusive natural stone, frost-resistant and suitable for outdoor applications even in extreme climatic conditions. Its authentic, rugged aesthetic results from an irregular composition of naturally cemented fragments, creating surfaces that are always unique and deeply expressive.

This material combines technical durability with aesthetic value, making it ideal for projects in which stone plays a structural and identity-defining role. A stone with a strong personality, capable of engaging in dialogue with the project without being tamed, but enhanced in its most genuine nature.

Discover more about Nagelfluh

Construction logic as a design language

Built-in, a project by Davide Biancucci (2025), overturns the traditional concept of furniture: the table includes the chairs, and the chairs include the table. No longer separate elements placed in relation to one another, but complementary parts of a single entity.
Each module is derived from a stone slab processed using waterjet technology, from which a self-supporting frame is obtained that integrates two independent seats. The system is designed to be expandable, with modules placed side by side to continuously support the tabletop. The final geometry is not imposed, but emerges directly from the construction logic and the dimensions of the slab.

The project treats stone as a precious and finite resource, optimising surfaces and reducing waste. The texture of the conglomerate is allowed to emerge naturally: it is the inherent rhythm of the slabs that defines the identity of the object, not an imposed graphic design.

From block to system

From a technical perspective, Built-in combines precision machining with advanced structural solutions. Waterjet cutting enables clean, consistent elements while respecting the complexity of the material. The tabletop is reinforced with a honeycomb panel, increasing stability while reducing overall weight, without altering the appearance of the stone.

The entire project is conceived to make the most of the full slab, transforming a production constraint into a design principle. Assembly follows the same logic: each component is designed as part of a clear, legible and replicable system.

The value of stone in contemporary design

Built-in is the result of a collaboration in which design research, material expertise and a shared vision find a point of balance. Natural stone becomes a vehicle of value not only for its technical performance, but for its ability to generate identity, recognisability and positioning.

The choice of material, combined with a project capable of enhancing its structure and expressiveness, demonstrates how the value of an object arises from the encounter between material, design and a conscious supply chain.

Discover more about Nagelfluh