Archiproducts Design Award 2024, DOLMEN. Design sculptures by of Federica Biasi for MANERBA
The “Dolmen” sculptures were designed as an integral part of the “Back to Essence” installation by Federica Biasi, presented during the Milan Design Week 2024 at the Manerba showroom in the Brera Design District.
The Dolmen sculptures are inspired by the ancient monuments of large overlapping blocks of stone present in many cultures, offering a fascinating combination of contemporary art and archaeological references. They are archetypal monolithic blocks, between minimal art and futuristic primitivism, showing how the choices of materials and colours define the architecture of a furniture collection and an entire ambience.
Dolmen’s compositions were designed as real sculptures combining metal, wood, glass, fabric, surface finishes, fabrics, a colour match with a contemporary taste. With Dolmen primordial sculpture collection, Manerba returns to its origins, representing an artistic theme that always distinguished the Mantua office design brand. In fact, in the last 10 years, the company stood out for its expertise in the choice of colours, materials, finishes and in the creation of furniture and walls in prestigious offices.
The project pays tribute to essential colours and the search for the right material for the design, that is, a tribute to the foundations of every collection design process. Soft and pastel colours coexist with strong and contemporary colours, creating an increasingly coherent and future-oriented philosophy, representing the new image of the brand.
SUSTAINABILITY
Since its foundation over 50 years ago, Manerba in fact dedicated a unique attention to sustainability: from the choice of certified materials to the disassembly of the products of its collections. The Dolmen sculptures are a modular system that can be changed and moved, furnishing spaces, and enhancing the original and scenic importance of colours. Suitable to be placed in the lobby, reception, waiting rooms, executive offices, meeting rooms, and representation spaces. Sustainability is stressed by the responsible use of certified and recyclable raw materials following the eco-design concepts encompassing all the company’s work and the ability to last over time.
Manerba wanted to represent its new colour palette of 72 finishes selected both for chromatic consistency and after its in-depth research on innovative and sustainable materials, certified and compliant with CAMs. The novelty of the sculpture is the scenic and emotional representation of the value of the sustainability of materials with VOCs emissions lower than the CAM parameters. The choice of each of these materials required checks of the specific UNI-EN regulations, compliance with CAMs and VOCs and the study of the different processing processes, for the maximum environmental and economic sustainability. The Project recreates the same NCS (Natural Colour System®, universal colour standard) on different materials such as FSC-certified coated wood, lacquered wood and glass with the same water paint colour, water-painted metal with heavy metal concentrations compliant with CAMs.
Some peculiar technical characteristics of the materials of Manerba’s furniture collections:
Coated wood:
– Low formaldehyde emissions, lower than the limit provided for by the CAMs (less than 50% of the classification value E1 (formaldehyde emission) reported in the UNI EN 13986 standard Annex B);
– Contaminants lower than the limit provided by the CAMs;
– Compliance with UNI-EN standards;
– CARB certification, upon request;
– Reaction to fire B-s2, d0 according to EN 13986, on request;
– FSC certification of wood from sustainably developed forests, upon request.
Lacquered wood:
– Water-based paint;
– Emission of volatile organic substances (total VOCs) lower than the limit provided by the CAMs (less than 500 μg/m3);
– No change to the fire resistance capabilities of the support.
Thermal-laminated wood:
– Low light reflection;
– Matt surface;
– Thermal repairability of surface micro-scratches;
– Anti-fingerprint;
– Softness to the touch;
– Scratch and abrasion resistance;
– Resistance to dry heat;
– High resistance to acids;
– Antibacterial;
– Stability in light.
Cork wood:
– Self-extinguishing;
– Sustainable material;
– Sound absorption properties.
Painted metal:
– Water-based paint;
– Emission of volatile organic substances (total VOCs) lower than the limit provided by the CAMs (less than 500 μg/m3);
– Concentration of heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, hexavalent chromium, mercury, arsenic and selenium in the dry paint film of less than 0.01% by weight compliant with CAMs.
Bright and satin glass:
– Tempered glass according to UNI 7697;
– Water-based paint;
– Emission of volatile organic substances (total VOCs) lower than the limit provided by the CAMs (less than 500 μg/m3).
As for the environmental sustainability of the finishes, the use of liquid paints allows the production of small batches with the minimum use of raw material. The water-based paint is eco-friendly and is formulated with a lower amount (or absence) of volatile organic compounds, as during application the waterbased paints release less odour and less toxic substances, reducing air pollution, and in the disposal phase they generate fewer impacts.
For Manerba, the study of colours, materials and finishes is a constantly evolving process. The company created an extensive database of approaches and scenarios available to designers, of which the Dolmen on display represent only a small extract of the research. The meeting between design and colour implies the selection of materials, the care for high quality, technical and regulatory levels, the guarantee of durability and sustainability values.
END OF LIFE – RECYCLABILITY
All the modules of the Dolmen sculptures can be dismounted at end of their life and they are compatible with the disposal and recycling processes. They are delivered disassembled to Official Material Collection and Processing Centres, to be moved to new production cycles. The packaging is made of recyclable cardboard.
Two different disposal procedures are possible for the various modules:
- Disposal by the Customer:
In this case, the Customer delivers the modules to any specialised collection centre, which will disassemble the sculptures and sort the parts to the different collection point. - Disposal service by Manerba S.p.A.:
Our company offers the customer, on request, a collection and disposal service for end-of-life sculptures. Once the module is collected, it will be disassembled at our company plant and all the individual modules will be collected by companies on the Mantua territory, specialised in the processing and recycling of raw materials (wood, glass, metal.).