under the volcano @ alcova

Under the Volcano
An installation by Quayola, Francesco Meda & David Lopez Quincoces,
with a sound performance by Rodrigo D’Erasmo.

A fusion of matter, technology and sound in an immersive experience.

Alcova
SNIA Factory, Varedo
Milan Design Week
7th - 13th April, 2025
11AM - 7PM

Ranieri presents ‘Under the Volcano’ at Milan Design Week 2025, an immersive installation that explores the primal power of the volcano through matter, sound, and space. The project unfolds as a multisensory experience where art, design, and technology intertwine within the striking context of the SNIA Factory, a former industrial plant and recent addition to the Alcova venues. With its bold architectural lines and expansive windows, the space amplifies the material contrasts and expressive potential of the interventions within.

‘Under the Volcano’ unfolds in three key elements: the rocks eroded through Quayola’s algorithmic simulations, the soundscape by Rodrigo D’Erasmo, and the evocative architecture of Francesco Meda and David Lopez Quincoces, creative directors of the brand.

Raw lava blocks, sculpted by a robotic arm following erosion patterns generated through computational simulations by artist Quayola, dominate the central space of SNIA Factory. Shaped through a new algorithmic gesture, the stone seems to capture the imprint of an accelerated geological timeline. Its final geometry merges natural geological processes with digital simulation, transforming the material into a dynamic form suspended between nature and computation. The soundscape by D’Erasmo—Italian musician, composer, and producer, as well as violinist for the band Afterhours—unfolds in deep vibrations and low frequencies, evoking the subterranean churn of molten rock. His composition transposes the mountain’s raw, primordial energy into an immersive acoustic presence. Completing the space is an architectural installation of tiles by Meda and Lopez Quincoces, inspired by Barragán’s towers. Playing with monolithic volumes and natural light, it amplifies the verticality and raw power of lava stone. Clad in lava stone tiles, the towers reveal the material’s potential through versatile, customizable applications while accentuating both its aesthetic and functional qualities.

For Ranieri, the volcano serves as a powerful metaphor for its company philosophy: the transformation of matter as a creative act. The brand embraces unpredictability and imperfection, turning the rugged, memory-laden lava stone into new forms of aesthetic beauty. ‘Under the Volcano’ is a tangible manifestation of the brand’s vision, celebrated for its expertise in working with materials through a site-specific approach, and its ability to guide artists in transforming raw substances into refined artistic forms. This is exemplified in collaborations such as the one with Olafur Eliasson on the South Korean public art installation breathing earth sphere. ‘Under the Volcano’ not only showcases these technical skills but also encapsulates the brand’s DNA, where craftsmanship intersects with multidisciplinary experimentation, opening up new realms of expressive possibilities.

‘Under the Volcano’ embodies our vision of design as an alchemical process, where raw materials, steeped in history and power, are transformed into something entirely unique. Ranieri is a forge of ideas, a creative laboratory where design not only intersects with culture but actively shapes it. In this space, experimentation becomes essence, and the transformation of materials speaks the language of boundless creativity. It is a place where past and future converge, where craftsmanship merges with innovation, and where matter takes shape as a symbol of ideas that transcend the barriers of time and convention.” — Giovanni Ranieri, CEO of Ranieri.

In addition to its installation at Alcova, Ranieri expands its presence across the city, further advancing its exploration of lava stone through a dialogue with contemporary design. For the first time, the brand introduces a coffee tables collection, designed by Mario Milana and creative directors Francesco Meda and David Lopez Quincoces, pushes the material potential of lava stone through innovative surfaces and textures: metallic finishes, meteorite-inspired effects, and modular compositions create pieces with varying dimensions and colorways. The collection debuts at Casa Milana, in the heart of Brera. At the same time, Ranieri enters the bathroom sector with a collection of lava stone sinks, embodying the same interplay between raw materiality and refined form. Presented with a preview at Zucchetti’s new showroom on Corso Venezia 29, the collection reinterprets the sculptural essence of lava stone in a contemporary language, demonstrating its adaptability to a wide range of design applications.