FORMED

IN THE MEDI

TERRANEAN,

EXPRESSED

TO

THE

WORLD.

URBI ET ORBI | HANDMADE OBJECTS
THAT REDEFINE CONCRETE DESIGN

URBI et ORBI is an Athens-based design brand founded in 2012 that explores the expressive potential of concrete through the vision, ethos, and craftsmanship of those who shape it, drawing inspiration from their origins and local heritage adapted for the present.

Rather than treating it as a rigid industrial material, concrete is approached as a living mixture of minerals and stories, carrying the memory of places and traces of craft. Collaborating with diverse designers, the company creates objects for domestic and hospitality spaces, experimenting with traditional and innovative techniques. Each object utilises the plasticity of concrete in multiple expressions, reflecting both the materiality and the people involved.

Through initiatives such as the Zero Waste Project, URBI et ORBI integrates recycled materials, combining contemporary design, artisanal knowledge, and a more sustainable approach to production.

PLASTICITY

FREEDOM OF FORM

At first glance solid and immutable, concrete reveals its true nature as a fluid material shaped by human intention and skill. Limited only by imagination, its plasticity allows it to take any form.

MEDITERRANEO

CLOSED SEA, OPEN VIEW

A unique way of life, the Mediterranean spirit is shaped by a multitude of cultural expressions,
emerging from its warm climate and diverse geographical morphology.
A past rich in historical, symbolic, and traditional references is reinterpreted through a contemporary, innovative design language.

LIFECYCLE

FROM THE GROUND AND BACK

Composed of simple materials that come from the ground — rock, sand, and water — the mixture is formed through the cohesion of cement, which constitutes only one tenth of its mass.
This creates an inert material that can be reintegrated into the environment.
Built for longevity yet capable of returning to its original elements, concrete ultimately finds its way back to the ground.

MATERIALS
& PROCESSES

URBI ET ORBI creations result from expert craftsmanship that not only makes each piece unique, but also pushes the boundaries of what concrete can express through its organic nature. The company fosters close collaboration between designers and artisans, creating diverse and sustainable pieces that blend traditional methods with contemporary thinking. All raw materials used are internationally acknowledged and respect both the environment and the people who use them.
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ZERO WASTE
PROJECT BY
URBI ET ORBI

What is usually called industrial waste, we call secondary raw materials – Ρecycled concrete resources.

Concrete can be recycled infinitely, and we have made sustainable concrete recycling a natural part of our production process in order to minimise our ecological footprint. We use locally sourced raw materials, preferring sand collected from processing in our workshop rather than sand extracted directly from nature.
As a result, we have achieved the recycling of 100% of our internal concrete production waste. To highlight this commitment, in 2020 we launched a dedicated sustainability initiative called the Zero Waste Project, repurposing our concrete waste through multiple design and production processes. Read more