From the depths of ancient quarries to the forefront of sustainable design, Ruchika Grover has turned stone into a canvas for both art and innovation. Her journey began at just 14, traveling with her father, a marble trader, and developing an early fascination with natural stone’s unique textures and stories. Today, she leads Borrowed Earth Collaborative, a design studio that marries traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology to create architectural art and installations that celebrate the raw beauty of the natural world.
With a commitment to sustainability, Grover’s latest collection, Borrowed Earth Objects, transforms discarded stone remnants into elegant serveware, sculptural pieces, and games—ensuring that no material goes to waste. This new direction not only showcases her artistic vision but also reinforces her belief that natural stone, in all its perfect imperfection, can be both luxurious and eco-conscious. Ruchika’s work is a masterclass in balancing artistry with environmental responsibility, pushing the boundaries of design while honoring the earth from which her materials are born.
Interview with Ruchika Grover & The House Magazine:
What initially inspired you to work with stone and natural materials, and how did your early experiences traveling with your father shape your artistic vision?
My inspiration for working with stone and natural materials began with my early experiences traveling with my father, a marble and granite trader. From the age of 14, I was immersed in the world of natural stone, selecting materials from quarries around the globe. This exposure gave me a deep appreciation for the unique characteristics of each stone and sparked a profound respect for its potential as a medium.
These early experiences shaped my artistic vision by instilling a deep connection to the material. I came to see stone not just as a medium but as a canvas with its own narrative. Traveling through diverse landscapes and quarries, I developed a fascination with transforming stone into both functional and artistic expressions. This journey with my father was as much about discovery as it was about selecting materials, laying the foundation for my approach to creating with stone.
Can you describe the moment when you decided to establish Borrowed Earth Collaborative? What was the driving force behind this decision?
The idea for Borrowed Earth Collaborative emerged after two decades in the stone industry and five years in the United States. My previous work, with Odyssey, involved pushing creative boundaries and building a diverse portfolio across various projects. With a master’s in entrepreneurship, I felt a strong urge to channel my expertise into a platform that merges art, architecture, and design with natural stone in a unique way.
The driving force behind Borrowed Earth was a desire to innovate and create a space where traditional craftsmanship meets modern technology. I wanted to bridge the gap between artistic creativity and technical complexity, offering a platform for collaboration and showcasing the versatility of natural materials. Borrowed Earth represents a refined synthesis of everything learned, aimed at making stone work more accessible and inspiring while celebrating its potential.
Borrowed Earth is known for its sustainable practices. Can you elaborate on the specific methods you use to ensure sustainability in your manufacturing process?
Sustainability is central to Borrowed Earth’s approach. We minimize our environmental impact by sourcing materials from quarries that practice responsible extraction. Our manufacturing process focuses on waste reduction through optimized cutting techniques and advanced technology like CNC machines, which allow for precise cuts and efficient use of resources.
Energy efficiency is prioritized, with our facilities being 80% solar-powered. We recycle all water used in production and employ non-toxic finishes to ensure our products are environmentally friendly. By integrating these practices, we aim to create high-quality, beautiful designs while positively impacting the environment.
We repurpose remnants from projects and quarries, turning them into products and architectural elements as a part of our ZERO WASTE INITIATIVE.
How do you balance traditional craftsmanship with the latest technologies in your creations?
Balancing traditional craftsmanship with modern technology is key to my process. I start with hand-drawn sketches and conceptual designs, grounding the work in artistic intuition. Once the concept is established, I employ technologies like CNC milling and robotic manufacturing for precision and complexity. These tools allow me to execute intricate details and patterns that would be challenging to achieve manually.
After technological fabrication, skilled artisans apply the finishing touches, enhancing the material’s natural characteristics and adding artisanal quality. This blend of technology and craftsmanship ensures that each piece is both technically advanced and rich in traditional artistry, creating designs that are sophisticated and deeply rooted in artistic values.
Your work is deeply rooted in the connection to nature. How do you translate this connection into your designs, and what message do you hope to convey through your work?
My connection to nature profoundly influences my designs. By emphasizing the natural textures and colors of stone, I celebrate its origins and integrate organic forms into my work. My designs aim to reflect nature’s timeless beauty and resilience, creating harmony between natural environments and human spaces.
Sustainability is a core principle in my work, reflected in eco-friendly practices and materials. Through my creations, I hope to convey a message of reverence for nature, and acknowledge everything we can learn from it, while maintaining a respectful relationship with it. I aspire to inspire others to appreciate natural beauty and to foster mindfulness and sustainability in our interactions with the environment.
Can you walk us through your creative process, from concept to completion, for one of your architectural art pieces?
The creative process begins with understanding the project’s context and objectives through discussions with clients and collaborators. I sketch initial ideas and explore materials that align with the project’s vision. Once a concept is solidified, I create detailed 2D designs and 3D models using CAD software.
Prototyping follows, where I build physical models to refine the design. Fabrication then uses advanced technologies like CNC milling to achieve precise forms. Skilled artisans handle the finishing touches, adding unique details and textures. The final stage is installation, ensuring the piece integrates seamlessly into its environment. This process combines creativity, technology, and craftsmanship to produce impactful architectural art.
Your new Objects collection features limited edition serveware, games, and small sculptural pieces made from remnants. What inspired this collection, and what challenges did you face in its creation?
Borrowed Earth Objects is a particularly special endeavor for us, as it represents a fusion of creativity and sustainability. The inspiration for this vertical stemmed from our desire to make the most out of every piece of material we use. By focusing on remnants—those leftover or discarded pieces of stone and marble—we aimed to create something both beautiful and functional, transforming what would otherwise be waste into elegant, limited edition serveware, games, and small sculptural pieces.
We are used to working on larger projects and installations and establishing this vertical has presented its own set of challenges. One of the primary difficulties was working with materials that were not uniform in size, shape, or quality. Unlike sourcing large, pristine blocks of stone, remnants come with their own set of irregularities and limitations. This required a high degree of creativity and precision in design and fabrication. We had to carefully plan each piece to maximize the use of the material while still achieving the aesthetic and functional goals of the collection while also choosing to celebrate the perfect imperfections of every piece.
You’ve collaborated with various artists across different mediums. How do these collaborations influence your work, and what have been some of your most memorable partnerships?
Collaborating with artists across various mediums is essential to my creative journey, infusing my work with fresh perspectives and innovative techniques. These partnerships allow me to push the boundaries of natural materials like stone and marble, fostering a cross-pollination of ideas that leads to exciting and unexpected results.
Working with artists from diverse disciplines—such as Tony Ingrao on the sculptural installation for 50 Hudson Yards and an anonymous couple on a 5,000-pound backlit sculpture—brings unique visions and skill sets to the table. These collaborations challenge conventional approaches, inspiring new ways to think about texture, pattern, and application.
Notable projects also include working with Sergio Mercado for the Kips Bay Showhouse and Rebecca Minkoff on her Anthozoa sculptural pieces. Each partnership enriches my work, exploring new narratives and forms, and pushing the limits of traditional stone craftsmanship.
How do you envision the impact of Borrowed Earth Collaborative on the design industry, particularly in terms of promoting sustainability and natural materials?
At Borrowed Earth, we’re all about redefining how the design industry interacts with natural materials with sustainability as a core value. Our goal isn’t just to create beautiful, bespoke installations; we want to change the conversation about how these materials are used and valued.
We want to celebrate the incredible potential of natural stone. By combining cutting-edge technology with artisanal craftsmanship, we’re able to highlight their unique beauty and versatility. It’s about proving that natural materials can be both luxurious and sustainable, and challenging the usual ways they’re perceived in the industry.
Ultimately, we hope to inspire others in the architectural and design world to embrace the “Perfect Imperfection” of natural stone. , We’re committed to leading by example and proving that extraordinary design doesn’t have to come at the expense of our planet.
What are your future aspirations for Borrowed Earth Collaborative? Are there any upcoming projects or new directions you are particularly excited about?
There are exciting product launches underway at Borrowed Earth.
By September 2024, Borrowed Earth Objects will be ready for purchase in the United States. We are also launching our Bath Collection in November 2024. This collection features monolithic tubs, freestanding washbasins, over-the-counter vanities, shower trays, and benches, each carved from the earth’s most exquisite stones: Taj White Marble, Lavender Hue Marble, Black Wave Marble, Guatemala Green, and Crema Limestone.
The collection allows you to select an individual sculptural piece for your space or a composition along with an option to select from our tiles and panels for the flooring and walls within your bath spaces. As a part of Borrowed Earth’s ZERO WASTE INITIATIVE, if a composition of sculptural pieces and surfaces is selected for a space, we commit to carving it from a single block in the most efficient manner, thereby fostering a unique and cohesive aesthetic whilst remaining committed to sustainability.
Our primary goal is to expand our impact while remaining firmly rooted in our commitment to sustainability and innovation, while building the Borrowed Earth Universe.
Looking back at your career so far, what are you most proud of, and what legacy do you hope to leave through your work with Borrowed Earth Collaborative?
Natural Stone is one of the most cumbersome and difficult materials to work with and requires heavy investment, a large, committed, skilled team and constant innovation.
We have managed to build a multi-national team across cultural differences and timezones, a diverse portfolio, a stellar reputation and are building new products every day which we are incredibly proud of.
Borrowed Earth is evolving into an initiative which is much larger than all of us. I don’t know where exactly we are headed yet, but I am certain we will enjoy every step of the way.
Credits:
Written by Kacey Perez | @studioblume_
Photography courtesy of Ruchika Grover / Borrowed Earth Objects
