C: What have you been up to recently? What are the next projects/exhibitions you wish to highlight? 

AB: In line with the El Jem Table from the "Monument" collection, I am embarking on a project that has been close to my heart for two years, continuously refined over time. Corniche is a long marble seat, conceived as an ancient architectural element reimagined into a monumental, functional piece. It serves as a link between architecture and design, blending the past and present. The design maintains the play of curves, referencing the natural erosion of stone over time, capturing the passage of history and the beauty of wear.

C: How did you get into collectible design? Why did you focus your practice on this type of design rather than industrial design?

AB: I came to design through architecture, to complement my projects and develop the same creative processes on a different scale. Eventually, I began creating collections. I was drawn to collectible design for its artistic dimension and the way it authentically and intensely embodies the creator's vision, as it is less constrained by intermediaries and commercial pressures than industrial design. This allows for uncompromising, freer design.

While industrial design responds to a market demand, like any product made for sale, collectible design conveys the creator’s desire and idea, waiting for a connection, a true passion. It is a dialogue between two souls—more intimate, more personal, more intangible.

C:  If you were to collaborate with someone outside of the design scene, from an- other industry, who would you pick? 

AB: Without a doubt, a career in marble. I am captivated by this material. It represents the strength of nature and is part of our oldest architectural heritage. The beauty of the quarries, the density of the material, and the veins that emerge in the facades beneath the raw surface are all aspects that fascinate me.

C: What ethical considerations guide your material choices and sourcing practices in the production of collectible design pieces?

AB: I design creations that provide sustainable solutions, in harmony with the time it takes for them to be created in nature. Marble, for instance, holds an extraordinary temporal value compared to our human-scale time. We must respect this and create objects that endure through time, ones that never lose their appeal. This message emphasizes the value of raw materials and encourages us to consume less, while cherishing things for the long term—not only for their material worth but also for their sentimental value, which is shaped by the creator's involvement and the buyer's choice. The acquisition of a collectible design piece is a journey that begins with a millennia-long geological process and culminates in a collector's deep appreciation for a marble coffee table.