'Diamond' Mosaic Decor
- – 2023
- Atlas Concorde
- Design
Wonder, or ‘meraviglia’ in Italian, drives creativity and inspiration. Atlas Concorde's new Marvel Meraviglia collection is named after Calacatta Meraviglia, a timeless marble characterized by the purity of its white composition that incorporates slender veins and soft weaves. With neutral shades drawn from the finest marbles that also include Calacatta Bernini, Silver Majestic and Black Origin, the collection echoes the natural palate and grain of each marble in a variety of finishes and specifications for both indoor and outdoor use.
Providing the Marvel Meraviglia collection with a bespoke decorative line, Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has reinterpreted traditional mosaic patterning in a unique range of mosaic decors named 'Diamond' that has been informed by the concept of transformation.
Inspired by the intricate geometric inlays of marble and glass within Rome's 12th and 13th century Cosmatesque mosaics, ZHA’s 'Diamond' mosaic decor is no longer a constant repetition of geometries and colours, but rather, an evolution.
Defined by algorithms developed by ZHA for the collection, the mosaic’s rigid geometry undergoes a metamorphosis in which the composition of colour transforms as it develops across the surface of a wall or floor, enabling designers and planners to focus attention on specific spaces; to characterize an area with a unique design; or to allow the surface to define the nature of a space.
Paolo Zilli, project director at ZHA explains, “The collaboration with Atlas Concorde led to a design in which a disruptive element is introduced into a classic mosaic pattern. Like an inclusion within a diamond, the insertion of a new element into the crystalline structure creates an unexpected dynamism to the strict repetition of its rigid geometries. Introducing a new logic to the mosaic decor design instigates a metamorphosis in the tiles’ geometry as they transition from one colour to another.
Developed with the shared values of innovation, design and production excellence together with environmental considerations, the 'Diamond' collaboration builds upon the combined histories and expertise of Atlas Concorde and ZHA.
Patented in Italy by Atlas Concorde, the new Velvetech surface conveys the finish of polished natural stone. With a soft luminosity, the gloss and opaque Velvetech surface highlights the subtle textures and accentuates the finest details within the Marvel Meraviglia collection.
ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS
Patrik Schumacher
Paolo Zilli
Iris Chen, Adam Chown, Adam Murray