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Franchi Umberto Marmi and Carrara marble have some common history, but the opposite can also be said to be true. This constant connection and contamination began over 50 years ago, in 1971, when Umberto Franchi founded his eponymous company. Starting with the commerce of marble slabs, the company grew quickly and purchased several quarries, which remain the pulsing heart of the business, today led by Franchi’s children Alberto and Bernarda. Starting with the Carrara headquarters, which currently extend around 60,000 sq. m (the largest in the Apuan sector at the moment), this company is a symbol of Made in Italy and the beauty of Calacatta, Bianco Gioia and Statuario marble, as well as a point of reference of industry 4.0.
Wanting to share its valuable know-how, the company opened the doors of its headquarters in 2022 and embarked on a dedicated training course, the centerpiece of which is the company academy. Fall 2023 will see the start of a new professional development project – a postgraduate advanced training course in partnership with YACademy, focusing on landscape architecture. With the participation of Patrick Lüth (Snøhetta) as a lecturer, the central theme will be the regeneration of an abandoned quarry, with a course structured specifically for young architects of the future. Between September and November, participants will tackle the theme of the natural environment as a stage for design, alongside teachers hailing from international firms such as SANAA, HHF Architects, Eduardo Souto De Moura Arquitectos, David Chipperfield Architects and, of course, Snøhetta, which became well acquainted with Carrara marble through its project for the Oslo Opera House.
The course will focus on Carrara and its quarries, specifically the one at foot of the Vara Bridges. A starting point from which to reflect on the historical and artistic evolution of the landscape, it also is a place from which to delve into protocols and methodologies to reduce the human footprint, trends and innovations for sustainable architecture, and the comprehension and protection of biodiversity. There will also be no shortage of guided tours to other quarries and along nature trails.
“At Franchi Umberto Marmi, we strongly believe in this project that entrusts this study on the regeneration of the abandoned quarry at the foot of the Vara Bridges to young people”, the company stated. “With it, we want to project the image of our territory towards the future”.
