The collaboration between SolidNature, BIG, and Humans since 1982 was launched during 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen, marking the introduction of a new collection of kinetic timepieces realized in natural stone. Presented within Materialism at the BIG headquarters, the project represents a shared exploration of how technology, architecture, and material can converge in collectible design. What debuted during the exhibition has evolved into an ongoing collection, positioning stone as a contemporary medium for objects that measure and express time.
At the core of the collaboration is a series of iconic clock sculptures by Humans since 1982, reimagined for the first time in natural travertine through a close partnership with SolidNature and BIG. Crafted in Desert Dune travertine, the timepieces translate mechanical precision into a sculptural architectural object. The stone’s layered structure and warm tonal depth act as a visual counterpoint to the choreographed movement of the clocks, merging engineered motion with geological permanence.
Developing the collection required an intensive dialogue between design, engineering, and craftsmanship. Each piece was milled to an ultra thin stone profile while maintaining structural integrity, demanding a refined understanding of the material’s behavior. Together, the collaborators reengineered the internal construction to preserve both visual purity and functional precision. The result is a collectible series that balances delicacy and monumentality, conceived not as a temporary installation but as a lasting design object.
BIG, led by Bjarke Ingels, is an international architecture and design studio recognized for merging pragmatic function with visionary thinking. Through projects spanning architecture, interiors, and product design, BIG explores how contemporary life can be shaped through bold material and spatial strategies.
Humans since 1982 is a Stockholm based studio operating at the intersection of art, design, and technology. Known internationally for their choreographed clock installations, the studio creates kinetic works that transform the measurement of time into immersive visual experiences. Their practice is defined by precision, movement, and a fascination with the poetic dimension of engineered systems.
By translating a kinetic clock into stone, we wanted to create an object where deep geological time meets the precision of measured time. It is about revealing the beauty of both permanence and movement within a single form.
