how SolidNature interprets stone into an architecture of emotions

solidnature transforms stone into atmospheric material

For David Mahyari, natural stone is far more than a building material. It is a record of geological time, a medium of artistic expression, and a catalyst for immersive design. The owner of SolidNature has spent the past decade redefining how architects, designers, and audiences experience stone, transforming it from a conventional surface into a material capable of atmospheric storytelling and emotion.

Operating between craftsmanship, technology, and design culture, SolidNature works with some of the world’s most striking natural stones and translates them into architectural environments, collectible pieces, and large scale installations. The company also regularly collaborates with leading creatives such as Bjarke Ingels Group, Sabine Marcelis, StudioPROBA or OMA to shape design experiences that visitors can physically move through and remember. The underlying philosophy is rooted in a simple but ambitious idea: revealing the hidden beauty embedded within the earth’s geological layers. ‘From the very beginning, SolidNature was never intended to be a conventional stone supplier,’ Mahyari tells designboom. ‘We decided to see stone not as inventory, but as potential. Raw geological poetry waiting to be interpreted.’

SolidNature owner David Mahyari | image by Marijke Aerden

mahyari unearths the emotional dimension of stone

Stone has shaped architecture for thousands of years, appearing in monuments, temples, and civic spaces across civilizations. Yet in contemporary construction, it has often been reduced to predictable roles. Mahyari believes the material deserves a more expressive future. ‘When you stand in front of a rare slab, you are not looking at a surface. You are looking at millions of years of compressed time,’ he explains. ‘Movement, depth, translucency, unexpected color gradients. It is emotional. It is immersive.’ 

This realization sparked SolidNature’s mission to reposition stone within contemporary design culture. Rather than treating it purely as a construction material, the company approaches stone as a creative medium capable of sculptural gestures and atmospheric environments. Experimentation has become central to that process. By developing advanced fabrication techniques and collaborating with architects and designers, SolidNature explores how stone can behave beyond traditional expectations. ‘What happens if stone is sculpted like a textile? If it glows? If it folds?’ Mahyari asks. ‘By pushing the limits of form and function, we discovered that stone can behave like art.’

stone atelier of SolidNature | image by David in den Bosch

from stone objects to immersive architectural environments

While SolidNature produces finely crafted objects and collectible pieces, the company also works in another parallel universe: spatial installations that immerse visitors in the material’s visual and tactile depth. For Mahyari, the difference between an object and an environment lies not only in size, but in emotional impact. ‘At an intimate scale, stone can feel precious and almost jewel-like,’ he explains. ‘At an architectural scale, it becomes atmospheric. It shapes light, acoustics, and movement. It envelops the visitor.’

In these environments, stone becomes more than a material surface. Veining patterns stretch across walls and floors. Translucent slabs filter light. Natural textures influence how people move through space. Storytelling begins with the material itself. ‘Every stone has a geological origin, a geography, and a history,’ Mahyari says. ‘That exclusivity is the starting point of the narrative.’ 

‘Monumental Wonders’ installation at MDW ’22 | image by Marco Cappelletti

mDW installation translates imagination into immersive space

The company’s installations play a key role in communicating its philosophy. Public projects allow SolidNature to experiment with narrative environments that connect material and imagination. One such example: the Milan Design Week ’23 installation Beyond the Surface in partnership with OMA, where visitors were guided through a sequence of spaces exploring the parallels between geological formation and the process of dreaming.

‘We explored the parallel between the journey of dreaming and the journey of stone,’ Mahyari explains. ‘Visitors moved through stages of discovery, pressure, transformation, and mastery.’ For Mahyari, installations are not simply exhibition pieces. They represent an essential part of building SolidNature as a creative brand. ‘From the very beginning, my intention was for SolidNature to become an inspiring brand,’ he says. ‘Storytelling through our installations allows people to experience the material in a deeper way.’