Header: Matteo Lavazza
For the first time together, renowned Milanese designer Alessandro Stabile and the historic Friulian brand Zilio A&C present two projects: the AX stool and the Mule bench family. The partnership combines Stabile’s innovative vision with the craftsmanship of Zilio A&C, founded in 1951 in Manzano, in the heart of the Udine chair district.
“With Alessandro Stabile, there has been a deep harmony of aesthetic views. The iconic simplicity of his design made me feel completely at ease because it perfectly matches our pursuit of timeless forms. Both projects are also interesting for their versatility. They are immediately recognisable, opening up to multiple uses.”
Carlo Zilio, CEO of Zilio A&C
AX: The crystallisation of a gesture into a multifunctional stool
The AX stool evokes the moment when the wood log, struck by the woodsman’s axe, splits in two. It is the temporal crystallisation of a gesture translated into a clean and extremely marked form.
“I fully recognise myself in the sophisticated essentiality of Zilio A&C, and the high-quality craftsmanship of the company, which manages to scrutinise every small detail through ingenious and accurate workmanship, has been a great stimulus for me. For AX, I worked on a strong design concept, deliberately avoiding nuances of meaning so that it would be immediately understandable to the end user. A stackable stool that, with its almost graphic purity, transcends time and paradoxically lends itself to many different impromptu situations, from domestic spaces to contract settings.”
Alessandro Stabile
The split that characterises AX suggests its grip for moving and stacking. It is an ideal complement as an informal seat in restaurants, bars, or exhibition spaces, and in contexts such as libraries and bookstores, to quickly set up a talk area, or even to be freely positioned in home interiors. Made of ash plywood, it is available in five customisable tones: alongside natural and black, blue, green, and red are primary and saturated colours that add a pop touch. Meticulous details embellish the stool and increase its functionality, such as the split that continues into the seat and is perceived in the slight inclination of the wood, creating a refined chiaroscuro movement. There is also an internal construction system that, when stacking the stool, prevents it from sliding down, thus protecting the wood from excessive rubbing and wear to ensure its durability over time.
Mule: Archetypal benches with zen vibrations
The Mule project is a family of ash benches whose milled solid wood sides enhance the sculptural linearity imagined by Alessandro Stabile.
“The skilled craftsmanship enhances the richness of the material and generates a noble object, composed of two suspended monoliths that support the seat. It’s a sort of small temple that, with its solid continuity, conveys a sense of calm and seems to slow down the perception of time in the observer, inviting them to sit for a break in the flow of daily life.”
Alessandro Stabile
Mule can also be interpreted in many different ways, from a temporary seat, perfect for contract use in a showroom or store, to a domestic surface to be moved as needed in the living room for a book or cellphone. In the bedroom, it can serve as a bedside table or valet stand, or in the bathroom as a storage space. The bench is available in two sizes—60 and 120 centimetres—in a refined organic and intense palette: olive green, smoke, and rust red, in addition to the classic black and natural ash.
Beyond the common concept of seating, AX and Mule are two iconic projects that blend intuitive simplicity and craftsmanship rooted in the territory, delicately entering the domestic landscape and collective spaces with their timeless forms.
