RF Studio’s stone tables merge Peruvian geology with handcrafted design
MAPA DE SUELOS (“Soil Map”) is a series of experimental stone tables that reflect the geological and cultural complexity of Peru. Conceived by Lima-based RF Studio and handcrafted by master stonesman Roberto Román, these one-of-a-kind pieces combine material innovation, historical depth, and artisanal mastery.
Drawing on millennia of lithic tradition, each table in the series pays homage to Peru’s ancient civilizations and the powerful relationship they forged with the land. Using marble, onyx, and travertine sourced across different altitudes of Peru, Mapa de Suelos offers a profound reinterpretation of the natural and human-formed landscapes that have defined the region for centuries.
What distinguishes these tables is the dual perspective they embody—both aerial and subterranean. Inspired by satellite imagery and geological cross-sections of the Andes and Amazon, the compositions are layered like stratified terrain, revealing fault lines, sedimentary build-ups, and tectonic echoes in stone.
These geological narratives are not just scientific references; they are metaphors for continuity, rupture, and the evolving identity of a place. This poetic cartography captures the essence of Peru as a land shaped by ancient movements and modern reinterpretation.
The latest and most intricate creation in the collection, Table N°7, was specially commissioned by Central, the internationally acclaimed restaurant in Lima led by chef Virgilio Martínez. Measuring 290 by 100 by 76 cm, this table becomes a bridge between landscape and gastronomy, echoing Martínez’s philosophy of tasting the Peruvian territory through altitude and ecology.
The table’s fragmented stones, once deemed waste by large-scale industry, are reassembled into a cohesive whole that celebrates diversity through deliberate construction. This act of transformation parallels how Central curates flavors from Peru’s varied ecosystems, resulting in a collaboration that unites space, material, and meaning.
The process behind Mapa de Suelos is as remarkable as the product. Unlike mass-produced furniture, these tables are the result of months of collaborative work. Given the difficulty of extracting large stone slabs in Peru, artisans work by hand to cut smaller fragments from hillside quarries, often overlooked by industrial players.
RF Studio recognized this limitation as an opportunity—not a constraint—initiating a sustainable model of creation rooted in recycling and respect for the craft. Partnering with Román, whose Ayacuchan lineage spans three generations of stonemasonry, the studio transforms discarded fragments into new geological compositions, reinforcing a circular philosophy of use and value.
Beyond its aesthetic and material sophistication, Mapa de Suelos speaks to a deeper reflection on identity, land, and time. Each table is a landscape in itself, a sculptural archive of Peru’s terrain and tectonics. It exemplifies RF Studio’s broader mission: to weave ecological awareness into artistic and architectural expression. Their work blurs the line between installation, furniture, and territorial narrative, gaining global recognition while remaining anchored in the local.
Available now on RF Studio’s new website and through their U.S. representative, PHILIA, Mapa de Suelos is a limited and highly sought-after collection. Its fusion of contemporary design, ancestral knowledge, and environmental consciousness makes each table more than just a piece of furniture—it is a story set in stone, crafted with reverence, precision, and purpose.
All images courtesy of RF Studio
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