The incredible installation by Ranieri during Milan Design Week 2025 enticed us to have a chat with Giovanni Ranieri, CEO, to dig deeper into the brand.
For generations, the family has lived and worked under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, and today their legacy continues with an innovative and reimagined approach to volcanic stone.聽
鈥淭he lava rock is part of my life because I was born in a quarry,鈥� said Giovanni Ranieri, reflecting on his family鈥檚 deep connection to this rugged material.
Over a year and a half ago, Giovanni led the rebranding of . The brand launched into a new era after selecting Francesco Meda and David Lopez Quincoces as its in 2023. This makeover is showcased in Under the Volcano, Ranieri’s immersive installation at Alcova, Varedo, during .
The exhibition goes beyond 鈥檚 walls with two new collections鈥�Void and Prima鈥攑resented at exclusive locations across Milan. These collections highlight Ranieri’s pioneering work with lava stone in furniture and bathroom design, further demonstrating the company鈥檚 mastery in transforming volcanic rock into modern, functional art pieces.
A Family鈥檚 Journey Through Time and Volcanic Rock
Ranieri鈥檚 story began under the looming presence of Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano that last erupted during World War II.
鈥淚n 1944, during the war, my family was here,鈥� Giovanni shared, recalling the low-scale eruption that left a soft mark on the surrounding region.聽
The Ranieri family has been extracting and working with lava stone for decades, embracing the material鈥檚 imperfections and strength. While the company originally sourced its stone from Vesuvius, they now also use rock from Mount Etna, Italy鈥檚 other iconic volcano.聽
鈥淭he two types of lava are very similar in structure,鈥� Giovanni explained, highlighting the seamless integration of the two sources in their design work.
Volcanic stone, renowned for its resilience, has become a core material for Ranieri鈥檚 outdoor, , and 辫谤辞诲耻肠迟蝉.听
鈥淟ava is ideal for these spaces because of its resistance to different elements,鈥� Giovanni noted.
The company鈥檚 expertise in working with such a raw, powerful material allows it to craft pieces that are as durable as they are visually striking.
A Multisensory Experience at Alcova: Sound, Sculpture, and Stone
Under the Volcano, Ranieri鈥檚 installation at the new Alcova location in Varedo, is a striking tribute to the raw power of volcanic rock. The setting鈥攁 former factory with open spaces and high ceilings鈥攑rovides the perfect backdrop for the company鈥檚 sculptural work.
鈥淲e wanted to create an installation that shows the material鈥檚 capabilities beyond what people typically expect,鈥� Giovanni explained.
鈥楿nder the Volcano鈥� unfolds in three key elements: the rocks eroded through 鈥檚 algorithmic simulations, the soundscape by Rodrigo D鈥橢rasmo, and the evocative architecture of Francesco Meda and David Lopez Quincoces, creative directors of the brand.
The installation, designed by and , showcases nine towering structures, some reaching up to four meters in height, made from Ranieri鈥檚 signature lava stone tiles. These freestanding elements, inspired by Barrag谩n鈥檚 architectural style, form a striking composition that resembles a forest of modern, monolithic sculptures. The arrangement is carefully designed to interact with natural light, highlighting the dynamic textures and shifting colors of the stone. Complementing this visual display is a soundscape by Italian musician , who draws on the deep, subterranean sounds of molten lava to create an immersive auditory experience.
鈥淲e captured the sound of lava moving beneath the earth and used that to create an immersive atmosphere,鈥� Giovanni shared, describing how they took equipment inside to get the sounds from within, later translated musically by D鈥橢rasmo.
Together, these elements form a compelling narrative about the beauty and strength of volcanic stone, interpreted through modern technology and artistic vision.
Presenting the Void and Prima Collections Across Milan
In addition to the Alcova installation, Ranieri is debuting two major collections at other key locations in Milan. The Void Collection, a series of modular coffee tables designed by Mario Milana, is on display at his private apartment in Brera. The collection plays with geometric forms and the tension between solidity and emptiness, transforming lava stone into elegant, sculptural pieces.聽
鈥淭he tables are designed to adapt to different spaces, from residential to contract settings, while maintaining the raw beauty of the material,鈥� Giovanni explained.
Meanwhile, the Prima Collection marks Ranieri鈥檚 expansion into bathroom design. Presented at 鈥檚 showroom on Corso Venezia, this collection includes sculptural sinks and bathtubs that highlight the natural textures and colors of volcanic stone.聽
鈥淲e鈥檝e used lava stone in bathrooms before, but this is the first time we鈥檝e launched a dedicated collection,鈥� Giovanni said.
The Prima pieces showcase Ranieri鈥檚 attention to detail, from the burgundy-toned Terra washbasin to the monumental Massa bathtub. Each item in the collection embodies the timeless strength of lava stone, combined with contemporary design aesthetics.
Ranieri鈥檚 showcase at Milan Design Week 2025 exemplifies the company鈥檚 commitment to blending tradition with innovation. From the powerful, multisensory experience of Under the Volcano at Alcova to the refined elegance of the Void and Prima collections, Ranieri continues to push the boundaries of what volcanic stone can achieve. By transforming a raw, ancient material into modern design statements, the company offers a compelling reminder of the beauty found in nature鈥檚 imperfection. As Giovanni put it:
鈥淟ava is much more than a material鈥攊t鈥檚 a story waiting to be told.鈥�
