SensiTerre: FLORIM and Matteo Thun highlight the aesthetic potential of a timeless material

09 October, 2024

The collaboration between Florim and Matteo Thun is further strengthened with the SensiTerre collection, a surface project that reinterprets the world of clays by merging traditional craftsmanship with technological innovation.

INSPIRATION

Celebrating the tenth anniversary of the limited-edition terracotta vases “Venere Bianca”, designed by Matteo Thun and Benedetto Fasciana in collaboration with Bitossi, the new Florim SensiTerre collection is born. The handcrafted vases, made by master ceramicists, are inspired by the simplicity of archetypal shapes, paying tribute to the ideal woman. The finishing touches, including gauze imprints, comb marks, and engravings, create unique textures that evoke the charm of Renaissance Italian workshops. Each piece is unique, communicating emotion and tactility.

PROJECT

A dialogue between the excellence of “handmade” craftsmanship, historical knowledge, and the new frontiers of Industry 4.0. The world of clay and earth is re-explored, evolving from artisanal to architectural dimensions, becoming a tool for architects and designers.

Matteo Thun and Benedetto Fasciana express their profound admiration for the excellence of ‘Made in Italy', infusing traditional ceramics with allure and tactility, aided by innovative technological support and a meticulous pursuit of expressive purity.

STYLE

The diverse warm colors and textured surfaces of the clay, crafted using ancient techniques, define the design philosophy of the SensiTerre collection. A reflective process on the elegance of details, where each shade represents a deliberate and conscious color choice: color as a guiding thread between the memory of traditions and the present of architecture. The natural color palette and material surface faithfully reproduce the various textures of clays, creating a warm and enveloping atmosphere. The colors Cotone, Sabbia, Rosato, Mattone, Amaranto, and Carbone are neutral yet intense, vibrant and dusty, aligned with the pure and refined femininity that inspires and shapes the collection. The modularity and multiple configurations of small and large formats are key elements of this collection, embodying a creative expression with infinite possibilities. The perfect combination of format versatility and color matching allows for a unique and personal product, making spaces intimate and in constant balance between history and innovation.

SUSTAINABILITY

The SensiTerre collection results from an environmentally conscious process carried out in facilities where 100% of raw production waste and wastewater are recovered. Florim - a Benefit Corporation and certified B Corp - produces up to 100% of the electricity required for its Italian production plants. When more is needed, the company purchases it from certified renewable sources. The collection is also part of the CarbonZero project, featuring Carbon Neutral surfaces that offset all CO2 emissions throughout their lifecycle.

RANGE AND DECORS

The tones evoke the earth, and the surfaces are distinguished by inviting touch and interaction with the material. Modularity and multiple configurations characterize the collection. Thus, SensiTerre deepens the dialogue initiated with the Sensi collection on exploring materials that can be “touched with the eyes and seen with the fingers.”

Six colors faithfully reproduce the different natural shades of clays, and there are four different surface finishes: Naturale and Grana, available in all six colors; Cannettato and Rigatino, available in Sabbia and Marrone only. The Naturale surface is matte and retains the original materiality of clay. The Grana finish is inspired by “cocciopesto”, a building material used by the Ancient Romans for waterproof flooring and walls, consisting of crushed brick fragments and fine lime-based mortar. Rigatino and Cannettato, on the other hand, replicate the combing and engraving techniques of the Venere Bianca vases.