Dal marmo Cristallina al Bucherer di Zurigo: il percorso verso il design

In the heart of Zurich, on Bahnhofstrasse, the Bucherer Flagship Store, crafted in Cristallina marble, stands as an icon of Swiss elegance and precision.

Clad in Cristallina® White Venato marble, with details in Cristallina® Black&White, it represents one of the most significant collaborations between Cristallina SA and the world of contemporary architecture.

Designed by Office Haratori (Zurich) and Office Winhov (Amsterdam), the project was awarded in 2021 as “Zurich’s Most Beautiful Building”, a recognition of its architectural excellence and the superior quality of the materials selected.

From Vision to Installation: The Cristallina Method

Behind every perfectly installed marble surface lies a method refined over more than 130 years of experience and deeply rooted in the Swiss territory.
The Bucherer Zurich project, created in Cristallina marble, is the result of a process that combines architectural vision, technical expertise, and Swiss craftsmanship. It all begins with the concept phase: understanding the architectural intent, the desired atmosphere, and how light interacts with the stone.
Next comes the technical consultancy, where our team supports architects and clients in defining every detail — thickness, finish, tonality, and aesthetic performance. From there, the sampling phase begins, during which we carefully select and test marble samples in our laboratory. Each slab is then analyzed, numbered, and traced, ensuring consistency and full traceability through the cutting stage. The next step is project modeling: through renderings, calculations, and mock-ups, we translate the vision into precise execution drawings.
Block selection takes place directly at our quarry in the Valle di Peccia, where Cristallina marble is extracted at over 1,200 meters above sea level. Finally, in our Biasca workshop, the material takes shape. Each element is cut, honed, pre-assembled, and tested in a preliminary installation. Only after a final precision check is the marble packaged and shipped for on-site installation. This comprehensive approach — from the first consultation to the final installation — is what distinguishes Cristallina SA: not merely a marble supplier, but a true project partner, capable of supporting architects, builders, and designers through every phase, ensuring flawless results.

Bucherer Zurich: Elegance Sculpted in Stone

The façade of the Bucherer Flagship Store is defined by the geometric rhythm of its slabs and by the continuous dialogue between light and material.
Every Cristallina marble surface at Bucherer Zurich was carefully honed to achieve a soft, uniform sheen, reflecting natural light and giving the building a distinct sculptural presence.

Inside, the same materials extend across the terraces and exhibition spaces, creating a coherent dialogue between exterior and interior. It is an example of how architecture and material merge into a single visual identity — elegant and timeless.

From Bucherer to the Void Tray: The Shape Becomes Design

The Void Tray, created by Cristallina Design in collaboration with ECAL – École cantonale d’art de Lausanne, was conceived as a scaled reinterpretation of the Bucherer Zurich façades.

The artist sought to recreate the same inclinations and proportions that define the original architecture, transforming them into a desk tray designed to hold pens and business cards.
The geometry of Bucherer thus becomes an intimate, everyday gesture — where material and function find harmony.

Sculpted from Cristallina® White and Violet marble, the Void Tray embodies the brand’s philosophy: transforming stone into design while preserving its authenticity and celebrating the precision of Swiss craftsmanship.

From a monumental architectural project to a collectible object, the Cristallina production chain — in dialogue with ECAL’s academic excellence — demonstrates how innovation, sustainability, and Swiss artisanal mastery can coexist within a single, coherent, and timeless vision.

Why Choose Cristallina

Choosing Cristallina SA means trusting a company that, for generations, has preserved the knowledge of stone and translated it into architectural works and design objects of unique character.

It means relying on a partner that combines craftsmanship, technical precision, and aesthetic sensibility, capable of guiding every project step by step, with the same care devoted to a work of art.

From the Peccia quarry to the Biasca workshop, each phase is carried out internally, ensuring total control over quality, timing, and environmental impact.

For us, marble is not just a material — it is a language that tells the story of the culture, geology, and light of the Ticino mountains.