If you are an architect or designer, click here to register for the Architect & Designer Day
With 200 companies booked into the 2017 Natural Stone Show that opens at ExCeL London on 25 April and more wanting to exhibit, the organisers are set to add an extra 1,000m2 to accommodate everyone.
The Stone Federation’s ‘Village’, which forms a hub at the centre of the Show, is full, with more Members exhibiting than ever. Among its features is a helpdesk to provide guidance on all aspects of stone selection, fixing and maintenance.
A conference run in conjunction with the exhibition has a theme for each of the three days of the Show (25-27 April). The 25th is Architect & Designer Day, the 26th Industry Day (in conjunction with Stone Federation Great Britain), and the 27th is Conservation Day (in conjunction with Historic England and English Stone Forum).
You can find out all about the Natural Stone Show, including a list of exhibitors and the programmes for each day of the conference, on the Stone Show website www.stoneshow.co.uk.
The conference on the Architect & Designer Day is themed as European Innovation Meets Stone Design. It is a RIBA CPD-assessed workshop which includes lunch, morning and afternoon refreshments and a guided tour of the Show. It is free, but it is for architects and designers only. If you want to be involved, you have to register by 7 April – click here.
It is presented by CPD providers network members Veronafiere and hosted by international stone consultant Vincent Marazita from the USA, who is entertaining as well as extraordinarily knowledgable about the use of stone in architecture.
The presentations include:
- Make Architects talking about new stone solutions to urban redevelopment at St James’s Market
- Peter Harrison, President of Euroroc and a Consultant at Harrison Goldman on innovative methods for stone detailing
- Steve Webb, Webb Yates Engineers, on new loadbearing solutions to using stone
- Davide Sandini, Cereser Marmi, on using augmented reality for stone selection
- Rita Galrão and Vera Pires from the Galrão Group on innovative façade solutions.
The full programme...
European innovation meets stone design
9:30–10:00
Registration & light refreshments in the South Gallery Rooms overlooking the Royal Victoria Dock. Sponsored by Stone Federation Great Britain
10:00–10:45
International innovation in stone design: an historical perspective
Vince Marazita, Stone Trends International
This introductory lecture will present a glimpse at the last 25 years of stone innovation and technology. From the number of stones on the market, to the introduction of diamond tools in quarrying and fabrication, to the ever changing architectural design criteria and standards, this one-hour informational tour will frame the clash between traditional and modern design practices, while presenting a new look at processing and installation efficiencies within current sustainability goals and standards.
10:45-11.15
Redefining Stone: New load-bearing solutions
Steve Webb, Webb Yates Engineers
Specialists in the structural design of stone, Webb Yates Engineers have collaborated closely with The Stonemasonry Company and other stonemasons over the last decade and evolved from the work-a-day justification of simple stone cantilever staircases to the design of audacious post tensioned stone structures and whole load bearing stone buildings. Steve shares his vision of stone, not just as a high end luxury floor product, but as a proletarian building material and low carbon alternative to concrete and takes you through a range of case studies including Clerkenwell Close, the Victoria & Albert Museum and a number of private projects.
11:15-12:00
New stone architectural solutions to urban redevelopment
Vicky Brown and James Roberts from Make Architects
Make is an award-winning international architectural practice with a reputation for challenging convention and pursuing design excellence. They will present a case study on the façade for St James’s Market – part of The Crown Estate’s core West End holdings and an architectural masterpiece in the centre of London. Commissioned to redevelop two key blocks as part of a major ten-year investment program to revitalise the St. James’s area, Make Architects overcame a number of technical challenges to deliver a project that both resonates with its historic identity and provides a dynamic new entity through the innovative use of curved stone panels.
Albion Stone supplied over 4,000m2 of Fancy Beach Whitbed for the stone-on-precast panels starting with a course finish at the bottom working up to a fine finish at the higher levels. Grove Whitbed was used for the plinths similar to the stock exchange at Paternoster Square. The second block, adjacent to Haymarket, is open jointed. It involves a curved Portland Stone and glass wall wrapped around the building using 169m3 of Albion Stone’s Jordan Whitbed on a unitized façade with horizontal aluminium fins.
12:00-13.30
Complimentary three-course lunch served at Zero Sette. Sponsored by Albion Stone and Forest Pennant
13:30–14:30
Guided tour of the 2017 Natural Stone Show
Vince Marazita and Peter Harrison will provide commentary through wireless headsets as they pick out stone and technology highlights from around the world.
14:30–15:15
Getting it right the first time: traditional materials and innovative methods for successful stone detailing
Peter Harrison, President of Euroroc & Consultant at Harrison Goldman
Well-detailed natural stone installations make up our architectural and cultural heritage. As we are at the crossroads of traditional masonry practices and new innovative architectural techniques, it is fundamental to have another look at architectural stone detailing for successful modern projects.
15:15–15:45
Light refreshments hosted at the Natural Stone Awards Gallery.
Sponsored by: Stone Federation Great Britain
Case studies on innovative solutions using natural stone
15:45-16:15
Redefining stone: new load bearing solutions
Steve Webb, Webb Yates Engineers
Specialists in the structural design of stone, Webb Yates Engineers have collaborated closely with The Stonemasonry Company and other stonemasons over the last decade and evolved from the work-a-day justification of simple stone cantilever staircases to the design of audacious post tensioned stone structures and whole load bearing stone buildings. Steve shares his vision of stone, not just as a high end luxury floor product, but as a proletarian building material and low carbon alternative to concrete and takes you through a range of case studies including Clerkenwell Close, the Victoria & Albert Museum and a number of private projects.
16:15-16:45
Innovative App technology: applying augmented reality to stone selection
Davide Sandini, Cereser Marmi
Augmented reality technology allows architects and designers to view large-size samples and applications in different settings, opening up a world of endless possibilities when designing with natural stone. Try out the technology yourself in this interactive session.
16.45-17:15
Innovative façade solutions: the combined benefits of a natural stone and cork composite
Rita Galrão and Vera Pires, Galrão Group
Collaboration between a Portuguese stone company and an engineering company has produced a new lightweight cladding and flooring solution. This combines intrinsic characteristics from both natural stone and cork. The technical benefits offered by this product are presented to UK architects for the first time.