Dezeen Magazine

Fabrica designers create nine unique objects for L'ArcoBaleno

Designers at Italian research studio Fabrica have collaborated with artisans to create a collection of nine one-off objects for online design platform L'ArcoBaleno.

Maybe by Catarina Carreiras
Maybe by Catarina Carreiras, as main image

The One And Only collection sets out to challenge traditional online retail models by proposing collectable unique pieces, each by a Fabrica designer, instead of mass-produced goods.

Natura Morta With Parrot by Giorgia Zanellato
Natura Morta With Parrot by Giorgia Zanellato

The set includes a distorting mirror, a three-dimensional still-life arrangement and a wall applique made of bread.

Natura Morta With Parrot by Giorgia Zanellato
Natura Morta With Parrot by Giorgia Zanellato

"It's wonderful to be able to collaborate with young talents coming out of Fabrica," said Ambra Medda, creative director and co-founder of L'ArcoBaleno. "In this project, designers and artisans are mutually supportive, bringing the designer's work to life at such a high quality and allowing for the artisan's work to be seen by a larger audience."

Narcissus by Tomomi Maezawa
Narcissus by Tomomi Maezawa

Each object comes with an artistic interpretation of the designer's drawing – meaning the customer not only gets a product, but also a representation of the idea at its foundation.

Ombre by Ferreol Babin for L'ArcoBaleno
Ombre by Ferreol Babin

The pieces include Narcissus by Japanese designer Tomomi Maezawa, a mirror hand-painted with an optical illusion. A reference to the lines of human facial muscles, the illusion distorts the user's reflection.

Ombre by Ferreol Babin
Ombre by Ferreol Babin

French designer Ferréol Babin created Ombre, a side table made of burnt pine and oak, referencing a traditional Japanese timber-finishing technique.

Under the Carpet by Mariana Fernandes
Under the Carpet by Mariana Fernandes

Portuguese graphic designer Catarina Carreiras' Maybe sculpture is made from bread – a material traditionally used in Sardinia to make elaborate forms. Mariana Fernandes, also from Portugal, has designed a hand-woven carpet intended as a wall hanging.

Centrum by Federico Floriani
Centrum by Federico Floriani

Centrum Fugere by Federico Floriani is a box with a seam camouflaged by the pattern of the Guatemalan green marble, making it look like a solid object and thus concealing its contents.

Centrum by Federico Floriani
Centrum by Federico Floriani

German designer Pascal Hien's polished marble cylinder, Division, is designed to be broken. Striking the middle with a steel chisel breaks the cylinder into two pieces, forming two vases.

Division by Pascal Hien
Division by Pascal Hien

Natura Morta with Parrot by Italian Giorgia Zanellato is intended to be a reversal of the traditional still-life painting by translating a two-dimensional artwork back into an object.

Division by Pascal Hien
Division by Pascal Hien

Scottish designer Dean Brown combines folded sheet metal with hand-carved wood to form his Makeshift Tray.

Makeshift Tray by Dean Brown
Makeshift Tray by Dean Brown

Finally, Fabrica studio director Sam Baron has designed a wrought iron sculpture referencing traditional decorative French ornaments called Attaches Moi.

Attaches Moi by Sam Baron
Attaches Moi by Sam Baron

The collection has been made in Europe by skilled artisans and is available exclusively through the L'ArcoBaleno website.

Natura Morta With Parrot by Giorgia Zanellato
Drawing of Natura Morta With Parrot by Giorgia Zanellato

Established by fashion brand Benetton in 1994, Fabrica offers young designers from around the world a one-year scholarship, accommodation and a round-trip ticket to Italy.

Ombre by Ferreol Babin
Drawing of Ombre by Ferreol Babin

The highly diverse group of researchers comprises the educational institution, research workshop and studio, with the aim of bringing about positive social change.