ASSIMAGRA encourages 'Broot - Dialogues from Within' at Milan Design Week 2025

"Throughout the long journey of human civilisation, from the Stone Age to the present day, until the end of the world. Stone. Always stone. Challenging time, the whims and the imagination of humankind."

With this reflection by ASSIMAGRA, the Portuguese Association of the Mineral Resources Industry, on one of nature's most persistent formations, one is reminded that stone has always been the silent witness to our evolution. Building upon this philosophy and unfolding within the storied streets of via Borgonuovo 5, in the Brera Design District during Milan Design Week 2025 is Broot - Dialogues from Within, setting a presence in a profound exchange between materials, creators and the passage of time. The collectible design showcase will be guided and promoted by ASSIMAGRA and curated and produced by the Portuguese stone exporter Olivah during the design festival running from April 7 – 13, 2025.

Broot invites visitors at Fuorisalone 2025 to witness the convergence of nature and design, reflecting this year's theme of Connected Worlds. "The project was devised to encourage dialogue. Between materials from diverse sources and represented by different sectors of the Portuguese industry. Between people who trust the wisdom of nature and value the sharing of experiences, allying innovation with creativity and culture," ASSIMAGRA conveys in the concept note.

Portuguese natural stone, sported as the 'central element' at the design exhibition, has an indispensable identity rooted in geological history and artisanal precision, defying time and reinventing itself in novel contexts. The first edition of Broot harnesses this duality, establishing itself as a meeting ground for designers, artists and architects, with each sculptural design piece an articulation of raw matter transformed, a meditation on the process and the synergy between what is extracted and imagined.

"Essentially, [the project] functions as a laboratory of innovation and creativity that fosters new partnerships and collections of original and refined design pieces," ASSIMAGRA reiterates. The product designs are a living archive of textures and narratives; each work is etched with the mark of its origin yet sculpted into something resolutely modern. "Broot is a tribute to the finesse and richness of what emerges from the earth. A praise to the stone as [the] main fertile material and one of the natural elements that better [portrays] human evolution, converted into a dialogue with various other materials that grow out of the earth, coming from various regions of the country," as the press release mentions.

The collection features 25 pieces made from traditional materials and contemporary artistic visions, but only five will be showcased at Milan Design Week this year: STIR looks at the distinctive 'dialogues' presented as Schist & Acacia by Studio Anansi, Granite & Burel by Studio Olivah, Limestone & Clay by Vítor Reis Cerâmica, Marble & Cork by JMM Design Studio, and Basalt & Wicker by Estúdio Eneida Lombe Tavares.

Schist & Acacia Dialogue by Studio Anansi

Canadian contemporary artist Evan Jerry's design practice Studio Anansi presents the Schist & Acacia Dialogue, inspired by the evocative landscapes of Portugal's prehistoric rock art site, Vale do Côa. With Jerry's work drawing from African folklore, the collection emerges from the sedimentation of clays into 'even and fragile' schist stone and the 'enduring, flexible' acacia wood. This dialogue is embodied in a suite of works, from a sleek schist bench with gracefully carved acacia legs to a console with CNC-carved slate legs and an acacia top. It further extends into a commanding centrepiece, a minimalist stool design and an imperial dining table.

Granite & Burel Dialogue by Studio Olivah

In an exploration of nature's ingrained dialogue, Studio Olivah transmutes the formidable beauty of the Portuguese mountain range of Serra da Estrela into products and furniture designs with this collection. "At a conceptual level, the pieces draw inspiration from a landscape moulded by the effects of glaciation while respecting the traditional techniques characteristic of the region," the press release states. Granite, with its crystalline grains and naturally varied shades, offers resistance and durability, while the tactile, coarse yet lasting burel, crafted from the wool of Serra da Estrela sheep, infuses each work with rugged authenticity. The collection features two granite side tables imitating the shape of boulders and is complemented by a burel tapestry of mosses and lichens. Centrepieces and vases carry the subtlety of texture and light, while the bench and armchair exhibit an ornate combination of bold granite structures and wispy burel accents at the design fair.

Limestone & Clay Dialogue by Vítor Reis Cerâmica

Showcasing the rich heritage of Portuguese pottery, Broot also unveils this dialogue by Caldas da Rainha-based ceramic design studio Vítor Reis Cerâmica. The collection's contemporary designs range from a limestone coffee table with CNC-carved details and clay-enrobed metal legs to structured vases and dual-textured platters crafted using handmade pottery techniques. The collection juxtaposes the cleaving of stone and the resilient mouldability of clay.

Marble & Cork Dialogue by João Marcos Moreira Studio

Reciprocity between the luminosity and strength of honed marble and the grace and versatility of carved cork is explored by the Portuguese collectible design practice João Marcos Moreira Studio in the Marble & Cork collection. The designs are rooted in the mythical landscape of the Alentejo, where ancient megalithic monuments and the silhouettes of cork oaks stand as timeless tributes. Refined lamp designs, commanding vases, centrepieces and stately dining and side table designs forged from marble with legs enveloped in cork marks the collection which commemorates the past, celebrates the present and anticipates what may become.

Basalt & Wicker Dialogue by Studio Eneida Lombe Tavares

Caldas da Rainha-based Studio Eneida Lombe Tavares presents a compelling narrative where volcanic basalt—strong, uniform and capable of preserving heat—coalesces with the light, versatile nature of handcrafted wicker with the Basalt & Wicker Dialogue. This collection comprises a softened basalt block bench and a CNC-carved chair design with seat and backrest interwoven with artisanal wicker, an intricately perforated centrepiece, a uniquely structured hamper and a lamp merging honed stone with hand-woven shade.

Beyond promoting Portuguese stone, the Dialogues collection offers a glimpse into Portugal's stories and traditions. These unique, original design pieces will also be featured in upcoming international exhibitions such as NYCxDesign and Expo Osaka after the design event.

Keep up with STIR's coverage of Milan Design Week 2025, where we spotlight the most compelling exhibitions, presentations and installations from top studios, designers and brands. Dive into the highlights of Euroluce 2025 and explore all the design districts—Fuorisalone, 5Vie, Brera, Isola, Durini, and beyond—alongside the faceted programme of Salone del Mobile.Milano this year.