Stone Stackers is an Italy-based design studio founded by Paolo Ciacci and Shilpa Srinivas, whose practice transforms reclaimed marble into collectible furniture and sculptural objects. Established through a shared commitment to sustainability and material experimentation, the studio reimagines discarded stone offcuts as expressive compositions that celebrate imperfection, craftsmanship, and the enduring beauty of natural materials. Guided by the belief that every fragment holds untapped potential, their work explores the intersection of environmental responsibility, sculptural form, and contemporary design.
Working in close collaboration with artisans and marble specialists, Stone Stackers embraces the irregularity of reclaimed stone, allowing each fragment to inform the final composition. Their collectible pieces are distinguished by bold geometries, rich natural textures, and an intuitive balance between precision and spontaneity, transforming industrial by-products into timeless works that celebrate material authenticity while giving stone a meaningful second life.
Paolo: I was born in Rome, Italy. I am currently juggling between Italy, India, and the UK.
Shilpa: I was born in India and currently reside in Rome, Italy, but I spent my early years in Bangalore.
Paolo: My first glimpse of art came from watching paintings my parents bought from a family friend who is a painter and sculptor. Growing up in Rome also means being exposed to art every day and moment. You just have to observe!
Shilpa: Annually, my school hosted arts and crafts fairs where students engaged in imaginative Ikebana, painting, block printing, and art made from waste. India has a rich and diverse culture, heritage, and art that is easily accessible.
Paolo: No. My entry into the creative field was somewhat later in the day. I joined the design program at the University of Rome after obtaining a degree in engineering, which I realized was not my path.
Shilpa: Creative field, yes. But art/design, no. It’s either unfortunate or fortunate that design has swept through my life unintentionally.
Paolo: To be honest, I have a basic need for expression. I began to feel the urge to express myself in my twenties. I have since worked to find ways of designing and producing things, whether it is an object or interior spaces.
Shilpa: I’m a photographer and currently preparing for fine art photography. My husband’s incredible design skills led to the creation of the design. He piqued my interest and guided me into the world of design and its possibilities. The spare time during the pandemic was an opportunity to mold our interests and seamlessly form this collaboration.
Paolo & Shilpa: It varies depending on the project. The process for Stone Stackers is entirely inspired by the raw material itself. I am driven by the materials, and the rest comes by itself, as if I am possessed by an energy that creates the object for me. In Stone Stackers, the creative process is more conventional for a designer. The process of building the concept that will guide the entire project, whether it’s a product, an interior, or a photography project, begins with paper.
Paolo: Wake up at 6 am, go for a walk and breakfast outside, come back, have a shower, and be ready to go, wherever the day will guide me.
Shilpa: My life is completely chaotic right now because I have a newborn. Otherwise, filter coffee, check emails, browse books for inspiration, listen to loud music, journal my ideas (if any), and take candid street photos instead. It’s a must to end the day with a glass of wine and talk to my husband or friends.
Paolo & Shilpa: We were chosen by Marble. The start of everything was our visit to Simeg Marmi, our partner’s factory that uses marble for international furniture brands. These works result in a considerable number of marble pieces that cannot be used in classical furniture production. We were forced to come up with an alternative due to the pain we felt upon realizing that these materials would be discarded.
Paolo & Shilpa: The second phase is when we only concentrate on the technical aspects of each project. Working with different materials and artisans requires flexibility in adapting to technical aspects and trusting the process.
Paolo: Don’t think, just create!
Shilpa: Find a balance in your exposure to other creators’ works. Exposing yourself to other artists’ work can be intimidating.
Paolo & Shilpa: Because every project is unique and the inspirations and stories are so different, it doesn’t follow any design movement.
Paolo: Donal Judd, Vincenzo De Cotiis.
Shilpa: Paolo Ciacci, Vincenzo De Cotiis, Vikram Goyal.
Paolo: Dimore Studio, Nacho Carbonell, Joep van Lieshout.
Shilpa: Vikram Goyal.
Paolo: Rick Owens, Yohji Yamamoto, Antony Gormley, Michael Jackson, Patti Smith, and many other artists.
Shilpa: Laxma Goud, Joakim Moller, Laura Pasquino.
Paolo: Creative.
Shilpa: Objects with personality.
“Don’t think, just create!”
(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust.
Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde,
Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)
Paolo: Being at peace.
Shilpa: Being in good physical and mental shape.
Paolo: Not being able to overcome fear.
Shilpa: Darkness.
Paolo: Not being consistent.
Shilpa: Procrastination.
Paolo: Egocentrism.
Shilpa: Double standards.
Paolo: My wife.
Shilpa: My husband and my baby.
Paolo: Fancy pants and jackets.
Shilpa: Really expensive shoes.
Paolo: Complicated.
Shilpa: Disoriented.
Paolo: Being consistent.
Shilpa: Friendliness.
Paolo: Being able to move on easily.
Shilpa: Kindness.
Paolo: Inner power.
Shilpa: Modesty.
Paolo: –
Shilpa: “At the moment.”
Paolo: Singing.
Shilpa: Painting.
Paolo: I would like to be a badass.
Shilpa: To be more fearless.
Paolo: My daughter.
Shilpa: My daughter.
Paolo: I prefer not to choose.
Shilpa: Sachin Tendulkar.
Paolo: I haven’t discovered it yet.
Shilpa: So far, Italy.
Paolo: My necklaces.
Shilpa: My camera lenses.
Paolo: The loss of a loved one.
Shilpa: The loss of a loved one.
Paolo: Rock star.
Shilpa: Travel photographer.
Paolo: Making people feel comfortable.
Shilpa: Adapting to new environments seamlessly.
Paolo: Empathy.
Shilpa: The comfort of friendship.
Paolo: Tiziano Terzani.
Shilpa: Jhumpa Lahiri, Salman Rushdie, Leo Tolstoy.
Paolo: I don’t have one.
Shilpa: None.
Paolo: –
Shilpa: Princess Diana.
Paolo: Myself in ten years.
Shilpa: My grandfather.
Paolo: Shanaya.
Shilpa: Shanaya, Mira, Shefali.
Paolo: Bad food.
Shilpa: Bad smells.
Paolo: I didn’t hit a few people when it was needed.
Shilpa: None so far.
Paolo: Smiling.
Shilpa: I’m not thinking about it.
Paolo: Just do it (taken from Nike!).
Shilpa: Live and let live.
“I am driven by the materials, and the rest comes by itself, as if I am possessed by an energy that creates the object for me.”
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