Outdoor
Surfaced: Amphisbaena
A sculptural bench installation designed by Sho Ota, realised by Italian fabricator Bianco67, and curated by Agglomerati. Positioned in front of Villa del Grumello with sweeping views of Lake Como, the five-metre-wide arch gives reclaimed travertine monumental presence.
The form recalls the mythic amphisbaena; a serpent with a head at each end, capable of moving in either direction. A symbol of cyclical motion, duality, and mirrored reflection, the arch splits at its centre and curves gently at both ends, echoing this ancient symmetry. Its language is precise, yet its rhythm speaks to something older - a fragment stretched between two points.
Made entirely from previously unused travertine offcuts, once destined for Vatican architecture, the work engages directly with the Festival’s curatorial theme: turning architectural debris into presence, where rupture becomes continuity and absence becomes form.
This is an ambitious iteration of Ota’s Surfaced series; a design ethos shaped by Japanese boro textiles: garments layered and visibly mended from worn scraps. Surfaced: Amphisbaena treats fragmentation as advantage. Imperfection is celebrated; seams become texture; history becomes pattern. The material feels alive.
The arch curves in quiet dialogue with its setting, offering space for gathering, rest, and pause. Designed with modular logic, the structure can be disassembled and reconfigured beyond the festival - extending the life and language of the fragments.
At its core, Surfaced: Amphisbaena is a collaborative expression of shared authorship. Agglomerati bridges multidisciplinary designers and stone industry leaders, to merge concept, craft, and material integrity. The result is a form that is elegant in intent, generous in scale, and resonant in meaning.
Agglomerati is reimagining the language of stone in contemporary design. Founded by curator and designer Sam Henley, the platfor collaborates with a global network of designers and master fabricators to produce sculptural collections that celebrate material, process, and form. Guided by bold, conceptual thinking, Agglomerati creates collectible and open-edition works that foreground the raw potential of natural stone. Each piece is a dialogue between maker and material, curated to honour both the artist’s vision and the geological history embedded in the stone itself. Through a curatorial lens, Agglomerati offers a platform for innovation in stone design, championing narrative-driven works that embrace permanence. Through Agglomerati, Henley continues to foster enduring partnerships that push the boundaries of what stone can be.
Sho Ota
Sho Ota is a Japanese designer based in the Netherlands whose practice bridges traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design thinking. After six years honing his skills in wooden furniture production in Japan, Ota relocated to the Netherlands to pursue a Master’s degree in Contextual Design at Design Academy Eindhoven, graduating in 2018. His work reflects a deep sensitivity to material, form, and process, drawing on the discipline of Japanese woodworking while exploring new sculptural and conceptual possibilities. Now focused on collectible design, Ota creates one-of-a-kind pieces that embrace imperfection, texture, and time, stepping away from the constraints of efficiency to embrace experimentation and individuality.
Bianco67
Bianco67 is an Italian stone atelier rooted in over fifty years of marble craftsmanship. Evolving from the Bernardo family’s historic business founded in the 1960s, the company merges artisanal expertise with cutting-edge technology to produce bespoke works of exceptional quality. From collectible design and industrial collaborations to complex interior projects, Bianco67 manages every step, from material selection and technical development to final installation, with precision and care. Known for its deep respect for stone and its ability to integrate other materials such as wood, glass, and metal, Bianco67 is a trusted partner for architects, designers, and private clients seeking timeless, tailor-made results.
