Install SolidNature and AMO dream Il Sleep
As Milan Design Week 2026 approaches, designboom is sitting with David Mahyari for an exclusive look at a visionary transformation. Inside designboom’s curated landscape Room for dreams, SolidNature joins forces with AMO, his think-tank OWNfor the debut of Il Sonno supermarket. This immersive experience redefines the everyday act of grocery shopping as a deep journey through geologic time. By replacing ordinary household goods with stone artefacts, the installation challenges the culture of disposable use and provokes a shift in perspective where contemporary consumption is replaced by awareness.
‘Imagination is the most powerful tool we have to create a better tomorrow,David Mahyari, owner of SolidNature, begins to make a design boom. ‘Supermarket products last forever. They are eternal as stone, and we as visitors are the ones who come and go.‘
David Mahyari, owner of SolidNature, (left) acts as the ‘dream maker’ for Il Sonno, adopting a resolute ‘yes’ philosophy that allows the mind of Samir Bantal, Director of AMO, (right) to push the boundaries without creative compromise
All images courtesy of SolidNature
monumental collaboration between SolidNature and AMO
The synergy behind Il Sonno stems from a fifteen-year collaboration between SolidNature and the creatives at OMA/AMO. In this new chapter, Mahyari acts as the ‘dream maker’, adopting a resolute ‘yes’ philosophy that allows Samir Bantal’s mind to push the limits without creative compromise. The process involves a hands-on translation of abstract dreams into physical reality, using more than 40 varieties of stone to create a landscape that is both spectacular and grounded. This collaboration thrives on the belief that design should leave a lasting emotional imprint on the visitor’s soul.
‘We (SolidNature) see ourselves as curators, bringing to life the beauty of the material and the brilliance of the creative minds we work with,David understands. ‘In many ways, we are dream makers. Creative minds are the heroes of our story. Our purpose is to take their vision, bring it to life, turn ambition into reality, and bring the sophistication of execution to bring their dream to life exactly as they envisioned it.‘
the design process for Il Sonno involves a practical translation of abstract dreams into physical reality, using over 40 varieties of stone for craftsmanship
Il Sonno, Italian for “sleep”, bridges the gap between the monumental history of natural stone and our modern desire for a conscious world. Stone has survived millennia, making the human presence feel beautifully temporary in comparison. The installation invites a different look at everyday life. He wonders if our environments were defined not by mass production, but by long-term value and intention. This utopian perspective encourages a future-oriented way of thinking, where the richness of nature’s colors reflects our own power of choice.
“Il Sonno invites us to see everyday life from a different perspective. With more awareness, more intention and a deeper sense of worth. In the presence of stone, we are the temporary place, and this realization offers a powerful perspective on how we choose to live, create and build for the future.” explains the owner of SolidNature.
the displayed merchandise is made from scraps and existing stone blocks, ensuring that every bit of nature is honored rather than wasted
Sustainable beauty flourishes in the corridors of Il Sonno
At the core of the facility’s craftsmanship is a harmonious combination of high-tech innovation and ancestral craftsmanship. The production team uses advanced five-axis CNC machines to achieve the recognizable geometries of milk cartons, detergent bottles and other products. However, it is the final touch of the craftsman’s hand that gives life to the mineral grain. Mahyari notes that machines alone cannot complete the journey. The human hand is essential to the application of fine detail that elevates a piece of land into a recognizable, frozen commodity.
‘We can create it with innovative machinery, but you always need craftsmanship.“David continues,”after all it is the hands that have to finish it and make sure it gets a finishing touch. This craftsmanship enables people to respect the material more.’
The installation invites a different look at everyday life, as stone is eternal compared to man
Sustainability is woven into the very fabric of the design process. Many of the featured goods are made from scraps and existing stone blocks, ensuring that every bit of nature is honored rather than wasted. This approach highlights stone’s low carbon footprint and inherent strength as the ultimate sustainable material. By showcasing such a wide variety of finishes and types, SolidNature resists shortcuts, choosing instead to respect the material by presenting it in its most diverse and striking forms.
‘All products are made from cut pieces or blocks from previous creations. We consciously plan to reuse material to make the objects of the installation. We build all our facilities so that the material can be reused after demolition,added the owner.
the production team uses advanced five-axis CNC machines to achieve the recognizable geometries of milk cartons, detergent bottles and other merchandise
Within the polycarbonate-clad walls, visitors encounter a mirrored sanctuary that reflects their own fleeting presence. Beneath the glow of industrial fluorescent lights and the hum of supermarket muzak, the installation creates a space for both external wonder and internal reflection. Some will be inspired by the vibrant textures and shapes, while others will ponder the scale of time. Ultimately, the experience is designed to ground the visitor, encouraging them to sit still and contemplate the millions of years of history held within a single shelf.
David asks,what is our significance with the material that will surpass us? We tried to touch the audience by working for a shocking installation, but also to use the reflection in the mirrors to ask the visitors: what exactly is your place in this world?‘
it is the final touch of the craftsman’s hand that gives life to the mineral grain, elevating a lump of earth into a recognizable, frozen commodity
In Il Sonno, time becomes scaleless and a dream state is understood as a change in the perception of reality. Through this exclusive look at David Mahyari’s process, we see how earth stone can transcend the frenetic pace of everyday life. Visitors can take refuge during Milan Design Week 2026 to explore the corridors of their own consciousness and see firsthand the permanence of stone.
‘It would be nice if people walk into the facility and immediately feel grounded. This is the power of the material. It gives people space to explore, slow down and, in doing so, really be in the moment,”, concludes David Mahyari about the design boom before Room for Dreams.
visitors can find a sanctuary, created by SolidNature and AMO, during Milan Design Week 2026 to explore the corridors of their own consciousness and see the permanence of stone
project information:
brand: SolidNature | @solid_nature
installation: Sleep
partner: Sameer Badal (MASTER/OMA)
report: Room for dreams
location: ME Milan Il Duca, Piazza della Repubblica, 13, 20124 Milan MI
dates: 21–26 April 2026
hours: 10:00 am – 8:00 p.m. Daily
