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Playing is healthy. This is what neuroscience tells us: taking micro-breaks from our activities helps reduce stress and makes us more receptive to people. Especially if these breaks are over a table tennis table: an easy and immediate game that quickly breaks down barriers, even between different roles in the work context.
This idea led to Partitina, a series of tables for games, meetings and dining where you can work, have lunch and play table tennis by placing a simple net-stretcher in the centre. The idea came from Il Magma, a multidisciplinary firm in Reggio Emilia founded by Massimo Colonna and Chiara Ormelli, who created the Lava brand to produce these tables. And the latest model in the collection was designed by Piacenza-based designer Gio Tirotto.
Massimo Colonna and Chiara Ormelli, how do your tables contribute to the interaction between people?
The design of the Partitina collection is ironic, like its name, but also functional. Just place a table tennis paddle and people feel invited to play. This was tested during Marazzi’s Tile Week at its headquarters in Sassuolo, where the many guests took turns at the table, breaking the ice between people who barely knew each other. Decontextualising the working relationship in this way made it possible to encourage cheerfulness and regain energy in intense and tiring days.
How and why did you decide to focus on the game experience?
Play positively affects the mind and body by performing a significant role in reducing stress and promoting mental well-being. We have tested this on ourselves in our office: we often used to look for ways to relieve tension or to ‘clear’ our minds. So, we thought of table tennis, which is one of the most immediate and intuitive games. Little technique is needed to start playing. We have a Partitina table in the office and we play every single day, which benefits our mood and productivity.
To the five tables you launched in May 2024, you have now added a sixth designed by Gio Tirotto.
We felt that it was necessary for another designer to interpret the essence of this collection and also to pay even more attention to detail: for example, the net-stretcher was custom-designed for the table series, which is also suitable for outdoor use. And we felt that Tirotto was not only a capable designer but also attuned to the idea behind the brand.
Gio Tirotto, tell us how you interpreted this meeting and game table.
Partitina 0-6 features curved aluminium legs with a 12-centimetre diameter, with a shape inspired by the trajectory of the ball on the table top: a hypnotic trail from one side of the table to the other. The sculptural red or black base contrasts with the sleek, elegant top in white or black marble-effect porcelain stoneware. The combination of top and base colours creates different aesthetics: from the strict and minimal total black to the more cheerful white and red. The reference to the game is metaphorical and transforms into an unusual and sophisticated design that can also bring a smile.
