The De Castelli trophy alternates polished and brushed stainless steel surfaces, engaging in a delicate play of light and shadow
For the tenth edition of the Archiproducts Design Awards, the iconic ADA trophy is reimagined in a new AISI 304 stainless steel finish by De Castelli, where reflective and matte surfaces meet in a subtle, ever-changing dialogue.
Moving away from the deep blues and greens of the previous edition, the 2025 ADA trophy transforms with the light, taking shape at the meeting point of two surfaces that seem to chase each other in a continuous motion: one reflects, while the other softens.
Designed by the Spanish studio MUT Design, this sculptural object, inspired by the Möbius strip, expresses this year the balance between two opposites: the polished metal that mirrors and reflects, and the brushed finish that tempers the light.
The dual surface embodies two distinct natures of De Castelli’s AISI 304 stainless steel. Its mirror-like polish, achieved through careful and repeated grinding, captures and reflects light, while the hand-brushed finish with Scotch-Brite softens reflections, leaving a unique and inimitable texture created through precise, repeated gestures. In this way, the trophy comes alive with contrast: one side delivers sharpness and shine, the other calms reflections and brings order.
The finish embraces—and even celebrates—subtle variations in tone and uniformity. These are not flaws, but traces of human craftsmanship and the material’s own timing, turning each piece into a unique object, a legacy of knowledge that combines modern technology with traditional workshop practices handed down through generations.
De Castelli on Archiproducts.com
