NATURAL MATERIALS DAWN OF THE N David Mahyari, CEO of SolidNature, discusses the reasons behind the surge in populari


Natural stone is back in fashion, first and foremost because people have rediscovered the beauty, richness and complexity of this organic material and the vast range of colours and finishes available. High-profile architectural firms and prominent designers are starting to use natural stone as the main element in their designs and, thanks to new software technology and innovations in manufacturing, new creative ways are being developed to use it.


Natural stone is also a sustainable material. Research from the Stone Federation includes a case study of a project at 15 Clerkenwell Close in London in which load- bearing natural stone was used rather than steel or concrete frames. The embodied carbon of the structure was reduced by 90% and the price was reduced by 25%. Additional research found that natural stone has a far lower carbon impact than carpet, parquet and vinyl. Large format ceramic tiles may have realistic veins, but they have a 74% higher Global Warming Potential value than natural stone, and a repeat pattern like wallpapers, so you can tell quickly that they are fake.


There are hundreds of different varieties of natural stone beyond the classic Carrara marble, and many have an extraordinary depth and complex layers formed over millions of years that contain crystals and even veins of metal. Unlike ceramic tiles, a number of finishes can be applied using state-of-the-art machinery to suit slippery wet rooms, staircases and high-traffic areas - the potential applications are almost limitless.


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For example, natural stone is very heavy, but at SolidNature we often apply the honeycombing technique originally developed for yachts which uses only a very thin sliver of lightweight stone. This allows us to safely clad surfaces like walls and ceilings. We also work closely with artists and designers to carve all manner of furniture and objects from solid blocks. For plinths, display cubes and furniture we use mitring and hand-finishing to give the illusion that an object is made from a solid block of stone when in fact it is hollow and much more lightweight.


Consumers are often nervous that natural stone can easily get stained. In fact, any stains are only 1/2mm deep and a polish will remove that top layer, making the stone as good as new. Ceramic tiles are quite robust, but they can still get stained, in which case there is nothing you can do - you just have to replace them.


Also, natural stone doesn’t necessarily have to be site- specific or a permanent installation. One of our clients considered the natural stone slabs in her home to be a collection of contemporary art created by nature. She asked us to future-proof them by making them portable and re-installed them in her next property when she moved house.


We always rise to a challenge at SolidNature, particularly when we can demonstrate the versatility of natural stone and celebrate its unique beauty in the extraordinary spaces designed by our discerning clientele.


www.solidnature.com www.tomorrowstileandstone.co.uk


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