22 renowned designers and artists were asked by Riva 1920 to work the ‘Briccole’, ( posts made of chestnut oak arising from the Venetian lagoon ) into objects.  They are at least ten meters (32.8 feet) high and once driven into the lagoon, they have an average life not longer than 5-10 years.

Their section affected by tide rise and fall becomes the natural home for microorganisms as well as sea flora and fauna, but once corroded, they are completely replaced.  The idea is simple: to reuse these posts once their “life” in the lagoon is over.

This is where this initiative originates from. On one side to recover these “briccole”, the high chestnut oak dolphins, you can still clearly see along the lagoon rivers; on the other side the work of those designers invited to reinterpret this extraordinary material, full of history, that water has turned into real “natural sculptures” during the years.

The 22 big names that “sign” the items of the display “Tra le briccole di Venezia” are a real pride as well as a further confirmation of the unique character of this project:

Antonio Citterio (booth), Terry Dwan (console), Michele De Lucchi (bookshelf), Mario Botta (small table), Matteo Thun (table), Pininfarina (model of Cisitalia 2020, antique car), Luca Scacchetti (table), Helidon Xhixha (table), Aldo Cibic (table), Enzo Mari (sculpture), Erasmo Figini (lamp), Paola Navone (installation), Karim Rashid (small sofa), David Chipperfield (bookshelf), Pierluigi Cerri (table), Marc Sadler (totem), Franco and Matteo Origoni (stool), Riccardo Arbizzoni (bank), Elio Fiorucci (painting on wood with female legs), Luisa Castiglioni (shelf), Missoni (hammock), Davide e Maurizio Riva.

Venice, the dolphins, their life into water: a way to mark the passing of time, the memory, but mainly the future.

One impressive example is the table by Matteo Thun.

The massive wooden planks corroded by tides turn a simple everyday object into a narrative piece of history.