The duo’s collection, entitled SensiEtna, is mostly composed of recycled and reused lava slab offcuts, and produced in collaboration with Nerosicilia
Photography courtesy of Florim
Sicily’s Mount Etna has long inspired poets, painters and the occasional volcanologist. Now, thanks to Italian ceramic company Florim and Milan-based design studio Matteo Thun & Partners, it’s entering the contemporary home.
Their new surface collection taps directly into Sicily’s most recognisable landmark. Its name, SensiEtna, is in homage to the volcano and channels its geology with a precision that feels equal parts research lab and artisanal workshop.
At the heart of the project is lava. Leaning on the expertise of Nerosicilia, the Italian specialists who have made volcanic stone their métier, the process exposes the mineral collisions that take place deep inside Etna: iron, silica and crystallised elements.
Photography courtesy of Florim
Rather than quarry fresh stone, the project begins by reclaiming lava slab offcuts from local processing facilities, a circular approach that’s meant to set the tone for the entire collection. Adding a contemporary twist, Matteo Thun & Partners also used recovered monitor glass, fused onto the surface to showcase a range of customisable colours.
‘In Sicily, lava stone is part of everyday life,’ note Matteo Thun & Partners. ‘Catania itself is built from it. Our research also explored the chromatic shifts of lava during the eruption. Its colour changes are far more complex than one might expect.’
With a palette that’s anchored in the stages of lava’s lifecycle, the designers used ivory to reference the molten glow of lava at peak heat, while charcoal captures the dense, cooled rock. In between, punchy yellows and deep reds add dimension, creating a subtle play of light and depth. Formats come in smaller 10×40, 10×10 and 20×20 cm, as a logical outcome of the project’s waste-reducing ethos.
Photography courtesy of Florim
Available in three finishes – Bugnato, a sculptural, irregular relief that catches light, the rougher matte Crosta and the crisp Rigatino – each piece is unique and retains the stone’s irregularities, including tiny fissures and crystalline flecks. The result is beautiful collection that adds a modern yet subtle finish to a variety of interiors.
With SensiEtna, Florim and Matteo Thun & Partners have translated Etna’s geology into a sophisticated material. Turning one of nature’s most dramatic natural elements into an elegant architectural surface, the project softens the volcano’s rugged textures for modern living.
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