Design Concept : MAGMA is a space for water. A place for emotions due to the approach of the body to the liquid element that has generated life. A mental dimension of well-being for the detachment of daily stress originated by the frenetic rhythms of work life. A physical state of  "immersion" measured by the total fluidity of a free and spontaneous contact of the body with the solid shapes of a natural material designed by the project. Magma is an installation equipped for the wellbeing of the body and mind. A system directed to the conceptual innovation and to the "re-naturalized" interprestation of the bathroom atmosphere, always more often “sterilized” by the imposed presence of elements and non communicative furnishing, profoundly “artificial” in their industrial dimension of specialized product.

MAGMA speaks the language of body, it traduces it in physical situations and sensations always different, offering the organism the possibility to use water to purify and detoxicate itself in a dimension parallel to the normal condition of “bathroom”. In a place conceived by the “natural representation” of the diverse beneficial souls that water possesses, this last one journeys the "fluid sinuosity of space" to arrive to the body as steam, like a sprinkle, like a flow. Thus in the design the spring nature of water is proposed again parallel to it’s usual static dimension of basin, in the context of an atmosphere that conceives “private” moments of total relax and abandonment, but that parallel offer the possibility of dynamic therapeutic treatments and personal fitness programs.

Title of the project"MAGMA - Studies and Concepts for innovative Wellness Areas and Bathrooms - HOTEL Category, Bathroom & Wellness-areas "

DesignGGA Studio (Giorgio Grandi - con Filippo Carcano, Maria Paula Gomez)

Completion dateseptember 2000 - january  2001

Competition"Contractworld Award 2001 - DOMOTEX, World Trade Fair for carpets and floor coverings - 13/16 january 2001"

CatalogueOutcoming in may 2001 - Bangert Verlag, Schopfheim

OrganizationIF Industrie Forum Design, Hannover & Deutsche Messe AG, Hannover

Prize

Special Award of the Jury(best Integration of coverings and lightings) out from 29 winning entries selected  within the three categories HOTEL - SHOP - OFFICE (MAGMA was the only italian prize-winning project)

Giorgio Grandi (1971, Milan) graduated cum laude from the Politecnico of Milan – faculty of Architecture in 1996. He also graduated cum laude from the Istituto Europeo di Design – Centro Ricerche of Milan with a Master of Design and Bionics Research in 2000.

Since 1996 he has been collaborating with Guido Nardi, Anna Mangiarotti, Andrea Campioli and Marisa Bertoldini to LSA2 – Laboratorio di Sperimentazione dell’Architettura 2 at DI.Tec, Politecnico di Milano – Campus Leonardo, where he is also Academic Tutor and studio Coordinator.

He is now Professor at Istituto Europeo di Design of Milan where he is currently Studio Professor too.

His office GGA Studio was established officially in 1997, on the occasion of two built interior projects: Grillo Hat Factory’s Show Room and Grant Thronton Headquarters in Milan. Since then its activities include spatial studies , experimental projects and innovative design as well as numerous entries to national and international competitions and events.

MAGMA  is the most recent concept and achievement of the Studio.