Since its inception in 2009, CTRLZAK studio focused on three diverse research topics, one of which is the critic analysis of what it means to live in human societies with their own rules and conventions.
SOCIAL/IRONY
In these societies humans strive for economic success and social status (inappropriately connected most of the times) through the act of possessing. Items, regardless of their nature, become symbols, bearers of meanings and on many occasions’ objects of desire. Regrettably humans tend to have a rather selfish perception of the world and are anxious to measure their success through the apparent value of their possessions rather than their actual worth. Furthermore, concepts like religion, politics and ethnic identity cloud the judgement of human beings making them have an even more biased perception of life. In order to have a more gratifying future, awareness is paramount. Humans need to be more genuinely curious about others and everything that surrounds them, realising the true value of relationships on one side and that of the material world on the other, that they themselves have created. Projects in this post: - Transubstantia paganus, eatable tableware - Precious, cabinet - Metrica, bookshelf - Remeditate, table - Femme Fanatique, installation - Library of dreams, installation
#ctrlzak #formfollowsmeaning #socialirony
Since its inception in 2009, CTRLZAK studio focused on three different research topics, one of which is the relationship between human, nature and the universe that they are part of.
NATURE/COSMOS
Humans blinded by their anthropocentric view of the world fail to see that the incessant damage they fashion will ultimately harm mainly themselves. Planet Earth has existed for over 4.7 billion years without people and will continue to do so at least until its star, the Sun, burns out.
What humans don’t realize is that they are part of a whole, a system that relates them directly to Earth and in consequence to the Universe. They keep viewing themselves as something that observes nature and the vast Cosmos around them instead of grasping that it is actually the Universe looking at itself.
There is still much to be learned from and within the Cosmos but until humans understand how insignificant and how important at the same time their existence is as part of a whole, they will never realize the future within time for what it really is: a constant present.
Projects in this post:
- Ekies all senses resort
- Unseen, apron
- Timeless, sandclock
- D/Zen, coffee table
- Quartz, armchair
- Extincto flag
#ctrlzak #formfollowsmeaning
Since its inception in 2009, CTRLZAK studio focused on three different research topics, one of which is the discovery of a common path that brings together different cultures through the history of humanity.
HYBIRD/CULTURE
One has only to examine human history to realize that it is filled with remarkable achievements that in most cases help humans understand better their present lives. If one examines even closer (s)he will realize that on many occasions those achievements are but different expressions of the same issue, usually all of them worth examining. Nowadays the exchange of information is extremely rapid and much easier than it was in the past, this leads to an unprecedented cultural mix that usually favours the most popular expressions but not necessarily the most interesting ones.
Hybridization will certainly continue more than ever in the future and will influence the lives of human beings in more than one way. In order to achieve a conscious Hybrid Future though, humans must look beyond their superficial differences and learn instead from their common past. Projects in this post: - Hybrid collection - Nouveau Geisha, wallpaper - Flagmented flag - Flagmented, artwork - Reverse, chairs - CeramiX collection - Cross(me)knot, carpet
#ctrlzak #hybridculture #formfollowsmeaning
✴️@ctrlzak at the @museumofmoderngreekculture (MNEP), Athens✴️
CTRLZAK is excited to share the completion of one of its latest projects at the Museum of Modern Greek Culture (MNEP) in Athens. Featuring also artworks by artist (and the studio’s founder) Thanos Zakopoulos, CTRLZAK developed a series of objects and architectural interventions that welcome visitors while highlighting the living legacy of Greek craft and tradition, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens.
Photos courtesy of CTRLZAK
#design #exhibition #architecture #CTRLZAK #archisearch
On site at the lab of Urbi et Orbi, where our research on the Mediterranean takes form through concrete.
After a careful check of colours, surfaces and proportions, our Strata bollards and handles are almost ready to be shipped! Each piece carries the marks of a fully handmade process — shaped, refined and perfected thanks to expertise -and sore hands of Urbi et Orbi’s team.
We always value time in the workshop — an essential moment to observe, refine our knowledge and strengthen the relationship between design and making.
Continuing our research into Greek domestic culture, we transformed the traditional Sini tray into another key element of @museumofmoderngreekculture ’s furniture collection.
Historically used as a communal serving surface within the home, the Sini Pan inspired the design of the museum’s coffee tables, with their tops crafted by artisans from Ioannina (a city known for its’ silversmithing culture) using traditional techniques and motifs. In this way, metalworking — a long-standing Greek craft tradition — plays a central role in the transformation.
These are not just design objects, but instruments of the museum’s narrative, transforming the visitor’s experience into a threshold of memory, craft, contemporary design, and sensory engagement.
We’re happy to present our new Samari series, crafted for @museumofmoderngreekculture in Athens which reflects the legacy of Greek living traditions in a contemporary way.
The traditional samari (donkey saddle) is transformed from a humble, rural object into stools and benches, functional elements within the museum space, aiming to immerse visitors in a more authentic experience.
Upholstered using the characteristic flokati technique — a handwoven wool textile deeply rooted in Greek pastoral culture — the stools embody material memory and tactile heritage, transforming what once belonged to everyday rural life into a new narrative that conveys aspects of the museum’s content while standing as contemporary pieces in their own right.
#customdesign #greektradition
Back in Athens, where a stop at the @museumofmoderngreekculture (MNEP) gave us the chance to see one of our latest projects fully completed.
We developed a series of objects and structures conceived to welcome visitors, conveying selected artisanal techniques and crafts rooted in Greek tradition — reinterpreted through a contemporary lens.
Inspired as much by the domestic sphere as by the religious domain, we reimagined the museum entrance and ticket counter as a layered spatial experience. Brass arches rise from a wooden structure, framing the space and the mural behind it; the ticket counter becomes an abstract iconostasis, inviting visitors to reflect on the layered identity of the place before entering the museum experience.
Introducing Tileaves, our new mural for @wallanddeco 🌿
The tiles act like photographic paper, capturing
the fleeting presence of leaves that once touched
their surface. Their imprints remain as delicate,
ghostly traces—ephemeral memories of nature
preserved in a man-made material.
Discover more on our website!
#wallpaper #interiordesign #artwork
The new Strata knob-hangers, designed by CTRLZAK, explore the theme of erosion through sculpted cavities that shape each piece and create natural gripping surfaces all around. Every element is unique, remaining true to the underlying concept. With their stacked layers, the pieces evoke sedimentation, erosion, and volcanic activity, symbolizing the slow passage of time.
#mixture #cohesion #plasticity #territory #matter
Introducing Relia collection, a duo of sculptural washbasins designed by CTRLZAK.
Each piece is a contemporary reinterpretation of classic forms, blending clean geometry with refined detailing. Their elegant lines and architectural presence create a sense of quiet luxury in any environment — from minimalist interiors to eclectic or softly traditional spaces.
#bagno #handmade #matter #madeingreece #italiandesign🇮🇹
The new Erosion shower tray, designed by CTRLZAK for Urbi et Orbi, features distinctive grooves shaped as if naturally carved by water over time, allowing it to flow smoothly without accumulating. The surface also incorporates stone-like elements that reinforce the natural reference to eroded soil, staying true to the original design concept.
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#handmade #concretedesigns #showers #outdoor #matter #mediterraneo #bagno #recycled #madeingreece🇬🇷 #italiandesign🇮🇹
