From the intricacy of delicately veined marble to the durability of hard-wearing granite, natural stone is one of the design world’s greatest resources – and Marmomac’s dedication to spotlighting its potential is unrivalled. The annual symposium, which takes place in Verona each September, attracts thousands of visitors from around the globe ready to discover future-facing ideas presented by the industry’s leading names.
The 2024 event – Marmomac’s 58th showing – served the city a bumper line-up, with a total of 1,485 companies from 55 countries in attendance. Some names of note included Citco, Demetra, A.A.T.C, Fauske Marble by Moser, and Stonewhite, but the long list boasted enough exhibitors to inspire all attendees, from casual consumer to esteemed industry networker. Strolling through the space enabled visitors to touch and feel raw-hewn slabs, connect with key players and professionals in the sector, discover cutting-edge technologies, and stay abreast of the latest advancements in every stage of the supply chain.
For the second year running, the overarching theme, A Matter of Stone, was led by a centrepiece pavilion of the same name, curated by Elle Decor alongside concept studio Calvi Brambilla. Each aspect of the build was thoughtfully designed to showcase the value of natural stone in all of its glory, spanning everything from architectural foundations to decorative details.
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The space also played host to the prestigious Matter of Stone contest, won by a Casa di Pietra project produced by limestone manufacturers Pimar, and art directed by GUMDESIGN. Their collective work was praised for its poetic, nature-inspired presentation, which incorporated organic olive wood elements against its stone materials, and the meticulous design shown in each of the individual pieces. A special mention was also given to Natstone Natural Stone.
For those seeking education and interaction, more than 40 conferences and workshops were held across 12 halls, culminating with the sought-after Marmomac Academy courses for architects. Participation in this element of Marmomac provides AIA- and RIBA-validated training credits; essential for professionals looking to upgrade their professional knowledge.
There was focus on emerging as well as established talent, particularly in Hall 10, which displayed work from up-and-coming university students. And the event made history by highlighting female entrepreneurship in the natural stone sector, with the award by the National Women of Marble Association and the Masters of Stone ceremony, which was presented to four female leaders to watch.
Adolfo Rebughini, CEO of Veronafiere, the home of Marmomac, has since confirmed two important future milestones. Not only has the Marmomac event been renewed until 2029, we can also anticipate the launch of Marmomac Brazil, a new trade fair platform that will make its debut in São Paulo in 2025.
As ever, Marmomac proved to be a landmark event for the stone industry, and its success looks set only to grow from here. If you like to earmark key dates in the design calendar with plenty of notice, next year’s edition of Marmomac is scheduled for 23-26 September 2025. Securing your slot sooner rather than later is highly advisable – the Marmomac website will have all of the latest details for Verona, and its new Brazillian counterpart, as soon as they land.
To learn more about Marmomac, visit marmomac.com
