Lithic Chords

Project: Lithic Chords

Location: Arsenale of Venice

Architectural concept and narrative: Cristina Morbi / Maetherea

Engineering design: Francesco Banchini

Sound composition: Andrea Granitzio / Suono dalla Fondazione Sciola

Project supported by: Cereser Marmi, Stonemasonry Company, Manni Sipre, Macalloy

Photos: Gunther Galligioni, Maetherea

Lithic Chords (Corda Litica) is an installation featured among the special projects of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, conceived by architect Cristina Morbi and engineer Francesco Banchini.

Created with the support of various international organizations and local entities in the Verona area, the work consists of a 20-meter-long table made of reclaimed marble elements assembled using tie rods, legs, and steel plates. Its slender form, supported by just two points of contact, symbolizes the passage of time and, at the same time, explores structure as a language: each element becomes a visible part of the system, transforming engineering into art and inviting conviviality, interaction, and play.

Manni Sipre contributed to the project by supplying slabs and feet, manufactured off-site, for final assembly by Steelior, the division that handles finished metal structural components ready for assembly.

The assembly, welding, and painting of the various parts play a crucial role as structural elements: the synergy established between the different components—the strength of the stone on one hand and the tensile strength of the steel on the other—challenges the traditional perception of materials by recreating the mechanics of a stringed instrument in which, through a finely calibrated system, opposing forces remain in balance.

Located within the Venice Arsenale, in a historic, delicate, and difficult-to-access setting, the structure stands out for its bold structural cantilever, made possible by the balance between the physical properties of marble and steel. Thanks to the use of off-site technologies, it was possible to design, test, and verify the entire structure prior to its installation, minimizing on-site work and ensuring, on the one hand, maximum protection of the historic site and, on the other, efficiency in terms of minimizing errors and unforeseen issues.

Lithic Chords incorporates certain principles related to the circularity of materials and the reversibility of the project. Inspired by the tradition of Venetian spolia, the work uses stones recovered from abandoned quarries and stone-cutting workshops, giving new life to waste materials through repurposing. The structure also includes steel elements, a material that can be recovered and recycled at the end of its useful life, depending on the management processes adopted.

The project was also conceived according to the principles of “design for disassembly”: the various elements can be disassembled, reassembled, and adapted to new contexts, facilitating the reuse of the work and its components over time.