With 200 companies now booked into the 2017 Natural Stone Show that opens at ExCeL London on 25 April, the organisers have added an extra aisle to accommodate everyone.
The Stone Federation’s ‘Village’, which forms a hub at the centre of the Show, is already full. 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 the Stone Federation), and 27th Conservation Day (in conjunction with Historic England).
The programmes of speakers for each of the days are now on the Stone Show website at www.stoneshow.co.uk.
The conference on the Architect & Designer Day is called ‘European Innovation Meets Stone Design’.
It is a one-day RIBA-assessed workshop from CPD providers network members Veronafiere, hosted by international stone consultant Vincent Marazita.
The presentations include: Vicky Brown and James Roberts from Make Architects talking about 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 augmented reality for stone selection; Rita Galrão and Vera Pires from the Galrão Group on innovative façade solutions.
There will be a guided tour of the Show and a lunch provided by sponsors Albion Stone (which quarries Portland limestone) and Forest of Dean Stone Firms (which quarries Pennant sandstone in the Forest of Dean).
And it is all free for architects and designers who register by Friday 7 April, which you can do at bit.ly/archi-day.