Contemporary stone surfaces. Design and technology between creativity and naturalness.

On the backdrop of technological updating processes that have been characteristic of the industry of stone manufacturing machinery in the last decades, it is possible to detect an impressive tendency towards product innovation based on the continuous thinning of slabs and on never-seen-before processes of creative re-thinking of surfaces. Nowadays drilled stone plates, extra-thin slabs exalting the translucence of some litotypes, stone skins refined with laser or water jet tools can express new technological potentiality, regarding language and sensorial stimulation, in relationship with the demand of the contemporary interior design in which stone materials find a renovated major role based on the axiom “creativity through naturalness”. The contribution, through a careful critical analysis of the most advanced creative, productive and merchandising trends, will reflect the current image of a material – stone - characterized by a multi-faceted identity, becoming a synonym of innovation and new expressive and emotional opportunities.