Verde Antigua Washbasin Top
Verde Antigua Washbasin Top
January 2014
Informazione riservata
Confidential Information
Residential
The project involved the creation of a washbasin countertop carved from a single block of marble with a thickness of 17 cm. The selected material was Verde Antigua, a natural stone distinguished by striking veining that ranges from soft green tones to white and grey hues.
The piece was designed with a concealed stainless steel containment basin integrated beneath the sink. This technical solution successfully combined functionality and aesthetics, providing protection against potential water leakage over time while preserving the clean, minimalist lines of the design.
A further distinctive detail is the groove milled along the countertop, specifically designed to accommodate an integrated LED strip. The built-in lighting enhances the natural veining of the Verde Antigua stone and creates a refined lighting effect that enriches the overall atmosphere of the space.
The project began with a detailed 3D design phase, which was essential for accurately defining the geometry, machining operations, and integration of all components.
CHALLENGES
The most demanding aspect of the project was the machining of the solid marble block, particularly the creation of the numerous channels and internal cavities required to achieve the final washbasin geometry.
The piece was hollowed out both in the upper basin area and within the internal structure itself, reducing its overall weight while maintaining the strength and durability required for long-term use. This highly delicate process demanded exceptional precision, both during CNC programming and throughout the milling operations.
Special attention was also devoted to creating the housing for the LED strip, which had to be perfectly integrated into the countertop design without compromising its clean and elegant appearance.
Beyond the technical challenges, the project also involved significant aesthetic complexity. One of the primary objectives was to achieve perfect visual continuity between the washbasin countertop and the surrounding vertical cladding.
This was particularly challenging because the various elements were manufactured from different components: the countertop was carved from a single solid block of Verde Antigua marble, while the front and side cladding panels were produced using lightweight honeycomb-backed stone panels.
MACHINES USED
The project was primarily manufactured using a 5-axis CNC machining center, a technology that enabled the execution of highly complex operations with exceptional precision.
The versatility of the machine made it possible to create the enclosed cavities required to reduce the weight of the solid marble block, as well as the dedicated recesses designed to accommodate the LED strips, features that required extremely tight tolerances.
CNC (Computer Numerical Control) technology played a fundamental role during the roughing and shaping stages, allowing the designed geometries to be reproduced with the highest level of accuracy.
The true added value of the project, however, lies in the integration of advanced machining technology with traditional craftsmanship.
While the upper surface was produced using CNC machinery, the internal surfaces of the basin required specialized hand-finishing. These areas were carefully polished and refined by our craftsmen through meticulous manual work, eliminating even the smallest imperfections and achieving a perfectly uniform finish.
