Marble & Technology

Claude Retegui, civil engineer and his associate Olivier Ducout, master of advanced studies in mechanics and CAD-CAM, place the company’s technical know-how and skills at the service of new contracts and prestigious clients such as Airbus Industrie, Yacht Couach, Martin Szekely, Galerie Kreo and Galerie Gastou.

The 3D MarbleTechnology department at the Retegui marble works has developed techniques that enable the stone to be considerably lightened while at the same time ensuring great solidity and strength. These many and varied techniques, which combine marble with composite materials, include: complex bonding, digitally-controlled milling, aluminium honeycomb core assembly, and glass fibre or carbon combinations.The company’s extensive technical know-how is not only used in both the shipbuilding and aeronautics sectors, but is also highly appreciated by architects and designers who, through these technical combinations, are able to give free rein to their imagination and use stone in original and tailor-made creations.

MARBRIERS
SINCE 1939

Laurent Bergez founded the marble craftworks in Saint Jean de Luz, South-West France, in 1939. At that time business was mainly concerned with cutting gravestones and other funerary art objects. Then his daughter, Francette and her husband, Etienne Retegui took over the business in 1973 and developed and modernized the production plant. In 1999, it was the turn of Claude Retegui, the founder’s grandson, to take the helm of the family business. Based on his extensive knowledge as a building and civil engineer, Claude created the 3D Technology department which allowed new avenues to be developed combining stone and composite materials. Today, the Retegui Marble Company has an experienced staff of twelve, including engineers and marble journeymen. These master craftsmen can call upon the company’s highly technical and state-of-the-art equipment to manufacture complex objects with the greatest precision.

THE
DESIGNERS

Jean Louis Iratzoki

 

Jean Louis Iratzoki was born in Donibane Lohizune (St-Jean-de-Luz) in 1965. He obtained a diploma in interior design at the Boulle school in Paris, and later one in industrial design at the "Escuela Experimental de Diseño" in Madrid. He set up his workshop in the Basque Country in 1998. He works with large and small companies in product design and artistic management. Through special reflection conducted with each company he takes into consideration each company's culture, history and environment. Jean Louis Iratzoki seeks out the simplicity and authenticity of the object. The creations also display a touch of personality and gentleness. In the picture, Jean Louis Iratzoki with his collaborator Ander Lizaso.

Sylvain Willenz

 

Sylvain Willenz was born in Brussels in 1978. He obtained a master’s degree in Design Products at the Royal College of Art in London. After graduating in 2003, he went on to open his industrial design office in Belgium in 2004. He works on various projects that encompass lighting, electronic consumer products, furniture, accessories and textiles. His talent reaches beyond the Low Countries and among his clients are the likes of Established & Sons, Cappellini, Hay, Karimoku New Standard and today, Retegui. Sylvain Willenz wanted to put the rich beauty of marble at the forefront of its designs and approached this exercise with simplicity and subtlety.

DEALERS