A Sea of Marble. The Living Origins of Cristallina
- Natascia Finocchiaro Maurino
- Aug 7
- 3 min read
Text by Natascia Finocchiaro Maurino, Founder, CEO and Artistic Director of Cristallina Design
In the heart of the Swiss Alps, where today the solid and silent peaks rise, once lay a primordial sea. An ocean populated by extraordinary creatures, including coral, which over the passing of geological eras transformed into a living and precious material: Cristallina marble .
Yes, our marble comes from the sea.
This surprising connection between the depths of the sea and the heights of the Alps is the starting point from which Cristallina Design comes to life. It's an identity that speaks of the power of time, the transformation of nature, the memory of beauty. And precisely to honor this unique origin, we wanted to begin our Cristallina Journal here: from the marine heart of the Swiss mountains.
Cristallina marble is living proof that even the hardest rock has a delicate history. It's a material born from the millennia-old fossilization of marine organisms, especially coral, and today stands as a symbol of silent strength, natural refinement, and the depth of contemporary design.
When we decided to invite the international designers from ECAL - MAS Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship - to work with Cristallina marble, my role was to guide them through an immersive experience at the heart of the material. We took them directly to the quarry in Pecia, to experience the stone in its natural context. They experienced firsthand the Ticino region, its strength, its beauty, its authenticity. They visited the workshop, listened to our story, and observed the care with which each block is extracted.
We asked each of them not to follow a prescribed theme, but to be inspired by the stone itself, to listen to it, to let themselves be guided by Ticino and by what this experience would awaken in their creative sensibilities. Korean designer Min Jun Choi, creator of the Corals collection He chose, among all the possibilities, to narrate the ancient, marine origins of Cristallina marble. He was able to read the stone's geological and poetic history and convey it with a creative force consistent with our values.
When I saw the project for the first time, along with many others, I immediately recognized Cristallina Design's vision: the balance between art, design, culture, and the memory of matter. That's why I chose this collection: because it reflects the entire soul of our project. Corals, after all, are more than just biological forms. They are emblems of natural beauty, symbols of the depths, ornamental icons for millennia. Rare, fragile, precious. Inaccessible except by diving into the heart of the sea. And just like corals, the objects in our Corals collection require a careful and profound gaze, an immersion in art.
The collection is composed of real functional sculptures, created to be lived in every day, but capable of inhabiting spaces with the intensity of a work of art:
– a coat hanger that recalls the branches of a coral,
– a jewelry box that holds and enhances the most precious objects,
– a coffee table that enriches indoor or outdoor spaces with strength and delicacy.
Each piece is exclusive, made to order, and limited edition, as befits a collector's item. This is our philosophy: to unite art and design in a new, ethical, and cultural vision, far removed from mass production and focused on attention to detail, meaning, and permanence.
Cristallina Design is born from a centuries-old tradition of stone extraction and processing. This Swiss heritage is now renewed through an international and contemporary vision, thanks to the work of designers from around the world, who interpret the material with fresh eyes.
In an age where everything seems ephemeral, we choose to create objects rooted in time and space, capable of exciting today and being passed down tomorrow.
Objects that enhance the human experience, the memory of place, and the very essence of living. With Cristallina Design, we bring to the world not only Swiss marble, but a story of beauty, respect for nature, and authenticity. A vision of design that doesn't simply fill spaces, but elevates them. Like a coral that slowly grows, in the silence of the sea.
Have you ever heard the voice of a stone?
We do.
If for you, beauty is memory, culture, and form, welcome to our journey. Every month, the Cristallina Journal offers a glimpse into our vision: a story for interior designers, architects, collectors, and design lovers. Follow us on Instagram , LinkedIn , or at cristallinadesign.com to never miss the next chapter.
Natascia Finocchiaro Maurino
Founder, CEO and Director
Artistic by Cristallina Design
