Delta is the latest collaborative project between the Roman Design Gallery Giustini / Stagetti Roma and the renowned design studio Formafantasma. Taking inspiration from the river Tevere, the main watercourse of Rome, Delta celebrates the characteristic mix of architectural styles layered over the centuries.
Formafantasma visited archaeological sites and museums during the design process, accumulating a plethora of photos and documents as the basis for their work. This process yielded a selection of materials ranging from marble, metals, porcelain, and wood to create a variety of objects, such as lights, vessels, an oil lantern, a cabinet, and a mirror.
The designers paid particular attention to mundane items from Imperial Rome, either referencing them or even directly sampling them for contemporary use. This included recreating porcelain pieces in colors that were a clear homage to Roman pottery. Through this work, Formafantasma discovered a contemporary beauty in the ruins retained over the centuries and the functional perfection of the objects found in the museums.
The end result, Delta, is a body of work that transcends the notion of the city and instead seeks timelessness through unexpected connections between different historical periods. By using design to draw these connections, Delta captures the multi-layered beauty of Rome and its lasting influence on contemporary design.
© All images by Studio Formafantasma
