15.09.2022

University projects, incoming activities, lectures and workshops specifically for architects and professionals to continue promoting the culture of natural stone on an ever broader large scale 

September 2022 - Marmomac, the top international trade fair in the marble and natural stone sector scheduled 27-30 September in Verona, consolidates its vocation for business, culture and training thanks to an impressive programme of initiatives targeting professionals, architects and designers combined with internationally accredited professional training courses. 

All-embracing natural stone culture hosted in a single area - The Plus Theatre - designed to narrate and inspire the use of this material through workshops focusing on design, architecture and university experiments, attended by the figures behind the cultural projects on show in Hall 10 (click HERE for the constantly updated programme). 

In addition to the large, full-immersion stage, there is also room for five cultural exhibitions that guide exhibitors and visitors through a tale of stone materials and their uses along a path ideally connecting the entire production cycle - from raw block to final products - demonstrating how natural stone lends itself to more or less complex applications in many different sectors, as well as highlighting its potential future developments through the visions of design and architecture, art, universities and major furniture brands. 

These events precisely include “Marmomac Meets Academies” - an event providing a specific link between the academic/training worlds and companies. Students attending several Italian and international universities were called on to showcase the skills they have acquired in the lecture room by presenting prototypes and artefacts inspired by a central theme that, for the 2022 edition, is linked with the landscapes of urban public spaces: DISCOVERING ITALY 

The Plus Theatre programme consequently therefore includes accredited talks involving professional associations of architects in Italy, the United Kingdom (RIBA) and the United States (AIA) with case studies of architecture and design, debates about the relationship between technology and art - not to mention awards and insights focusing on technology, trends, sustainability and markets encompassed in a programme of appointments that also includes attainment of training credits. The lectio magistralis by Craig Copeland discusses the use of stone in his architecture and design projects. Vittorio Sgarbi, as President of the Canova Foundation, will present a conference dedicated to the art of this famous sculptor on the occasion of the second centenary of his death. 

Marmo+Tech is back - the stage for sharing information and comparisons where machinery and tooling companies present technical innovations at the service of stone processing companies. All the more, Marmo+Press also makes its debut with a programme of conferences organized by international technical publications. 

The 56^th Marmomac, in addition to the events scheduled at The Plus Theatre open to all visitors, will host an important opportunity for architects attending the trade fair: the chance to take part in the "Stone & Design" programme of training sessions - three days of meetings during the show focusing on topics ranging from design aspects to others more closely related to technology and processing in the natural stone sector, usually reserved for the activities of 50 international delegations of architects and designers invited to Verona thanks to an agreement between Veronafiere, Confindustria Marmomacchine and ICE-Italian Trade Agency. 

As also evidenced by recent researchcommissioned by Marmomacc into the perception of marble by Italians, knowledge about applications using this material is still relative - and its potential and limitations are largely unknown even by many professionals. And certain beliefs claiming that marble is a difficult material in terms of applications, maintenance and aesthetics simply have to be dispelled at last.