Carrara marble is one of the most prestigious and appreciated materials in the world, known for its quality, beauty and historical use in art and architecture.
It has a rich and illustrious past that dates to ancient Rome and the Renaissance, so much so that it has been used by the greatest artists in history, including Michelangelo, who sculpted both the David and the Pietà in this marble.
This link with the past gives Carrara marble a unique cultural and historical value, but also demonstrates its extreme versatility. It can be used in a wide range of applications, from monumental architecture to luxury interiors, from floors and walls to designer furniture and accessories. It is no coincidence that the ability to adapt to different styles and contexts is one of its most appreciated features.
Myths to tell and myths to dispel
A material with a thousand characteristics and facets, Carrara marble is also wrapped in a veil of historical and artistic charm. Many things have been said and told over time, and some deserve to be repeated and/or denied.
Here, then, is a selection of 5 myths to tell or debunk on the topic.
1. The Good Morning Myth
When Michelangelo chose the block of marble to sculpt the David, he is said to have personally selected the material from the quarries of Carrara, opting for a huge block of marble, known as “The Giant”, which had previously been abandoned by other sculptors due to some imperfections.
According to legend, when he entered the workshop where he was sculpting it, he greeted the block of marble every morning with a “Good morning” and, after the day’s work, he went out saying “Goodnight”. This is because Michelangelo believed that the statue was already present in the block and that his job was only to free it.
2. The freedom of the colonnades
Once upon a time there was St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican in Rome and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. It is said that, when Bernini assumed the role of main architect of the basilica, he expanded the façade with attached columns, designed by his predecessor Carlo Maderno, and extended the colonnades towards the square in front; thus, was born the large elliptical space delimited by two semicircular colonnades that we know today.
The choice of white Carrara marble was crucial, because it managed to transform a potential “physical cage” into a free and welcoming embrace, a symbol of light, purity, and sacredness.
3. Lightness that is not fragility
Marble gets stained, marble chips, marble wears out. None of this! The belief that Carrara marble is fragile and delicate arises from a series of misperceptions and myths that have spread over time, often without real knowledge of the characteristics of the material.
Despite the above, Carrara marble is known for its resistance and durability, and the reasons for its false reputation can be attributed to the right maintenance practices to be reserved for it, which are not synonymous with fragility, but a commonly used practice to be aimed at all natural and prestigious materials such as marble.
4. The luxury of versatility
Have you ever wondered what ties together the Pantheon in Rome, the Apple Store in Piazza Liberty in Milan, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., Hamad International Airport in Doha, and the One Central Park residences in Sydney?
This is obviously white Carrara marble, a perfect material to be used in the most disparate environments and contexts thanks to its unique combination of aesthetic and practical characteristics. Its purity of color, with the bright white and the veins of the cold/warm background, gives a timeless beauty that adapts to both classic and modern designs.
5. If it's natural, it's not sustainable
Quite the opposite! Marble can be considered a sustainable material for various reasons regarding its life cycle, its durability, extraction and processing practices, and recycling possibilities.
First, its simple extraction and processing results in lower energy consumption and less environmental impact than the production of artificial materials.
Then, marble extraction practices are increasingly sustainable thanks to the adoption of advanced technologies that minimize waste and maximize results.
Finally, marble can be “transformed”, fragmenting, or crushing processing waste to create new materials.
Like a diamond
What makes Carrara marble particularly fascinating is its unique combination of aesthetic beauty, historical significance, versatility, and lasting quality. Exactly like a diamond!
These elements together create a material that is not only functional, but also deeply inspiring and symbolic, and which, used in an architectural project, immediately elevates the perception of luxury and quality of the environment itself. Whether it is a kitchen, a bathroom, a public building or a sculpture, Carrara marble gives a feeling of opulence and refinement without time or comparison.
