Naturally occurring, stone has been a staple of building materials since the beginning of time. The major benefits of stone cladding are its strength, durability and aesthetic appeal. With a myriad of possibilities that can enhance the look of any exterior or interior, having a sound understanding of stone cladding<\/a> is paramount to ensuring proper usage within your project. In order to gather the knowledge to elevate your next stone-clad project, Architizer spoke with Sander Nauenberg of Island Stone<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n A&T HOUSE<\/a> by Ariasrecalde Taller de Arquitectura<\/a> is clad in marble by MACAEL MARBLE<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n To achieve a safe and reliable fixing system for stone cladding, it is essential to fully consider the implications of the weight and properties of natural stone, early on in the design work. \u201cWeight is the primary area of concern when building with stone. Fundamentally, you are talking about adhering or attaching a very heavy material to a vertical surface,\u201d said Nauenberg. <\/span><\/p>\n Traditional Handset Cladding: <\/b>Traditional handset cladding is a longstanding building practice whereby natural stone is fixed to a pre-constructed backing structure. Together, these components provide the exterior envelope for a building.<\/span><\/p>\n Traditional handset cladding systems transfer the weight of the heavy stone to load bearing fixings situated at the floor plates. These systems must include both movement joints and compression joints. The most common types of natural stone used for with traditional handset fa\u00e7ade cladding systems are granite, limestone and sandstone, however marble and slate are also used.<\/span><\/p>\n Sea City Museum by Wilkinson Eyre Architects; image via ArchDaily<\/a><\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n <\/b>Rainscreen Principle: <\/b>Natural stone is gaining increasing popularity as a material harnessed to create dramatic and high-performing rainscreen fa\u00e7ades. Stone panels are installed onto the building face using either a concealed system or an exposed clip system. Stone-clad rainscreen fa\u00e7ades are most commonly back-ventilated and\u00a0consist of an interior drainage cavity, which helps swiftly remove any moisture that may seep behind.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Rustic Golden Slate Corridor; image via Island Stone<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Custom Cladding: <\/strong>As displayed by Island Stone<\/a>‘s portfolio<\/a> of work, boutique manufacturers can also help architects build an array of custom stone clad walls that are reminiscent of intricate mosaics. If this is something that you are interested in, consult with specialty manufacturers such as Island Stone<\/a>, early on in the design process.<\/p>\n Offices for the Junta de Castilla y Leon<\/a> by Alberto Campo Baeza<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Many types of natural stone are excellent cladding materials. These can be broadly divided into three geological groups: sedimentary rocks such as limestone and sandstone, metamorphic rocks such as slate and marble and lastly, igneous rocks such as granite. <\/span><\/p>\n In selecting the best type of stone, architects must consider a number of factors including appearance, intended use, size of the project, and most importantly, the composite that will provide adequate strength and durability.<\/span><\/p>\n Carehotel Middelpunt<\/a> by architectuuratelier Dertien12 + Herman Markey<\/a> is clad in flamed basalt stone on the upper levels of the building<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Basalt:<\/b> Basalt is a dark, blue-gray, volcanic stone that is suitable for both interior and exterior wall cladding applications. Basalt appears to be very fine-grained and is the most common type of volcanic rock used throughout architecture. One notable quality of basalt is that it possesses extremely high insulating capabilities. <\/span><\/p>\n Bluestone:<\/b> Bluestone is the commercially used name for a number of building stone varieties. Including basalt and limestone, this category includes at least twenty different types of stone with a blue tint.<\/span><\/p>\n Garden Mausoleum at Lakewood Cemetery<\/a> by HGA Architects and Engineers<\/a> is clad in roughly-textured gray granite and white mosaic-marble<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Granite:<\/b> Granite<\/a> is a coarse-grained stone made up of interlocking crystals. It is one of the most widely occurring stones in the world and an extremely popular building material for both interior and exterior cladding applications. Granite is known for its durability and the permanence of its color and texture.<\/span><\/p>\n Dudley Square Neighborhood Police Station<\/a> by Leers Weinzapfel Associates<\/a> is clad in golden Jerusalem stone; image via Leers Weinzpfel Associates<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Jerusalem Stone:<\/b> One of the oldest stones used in building construction, Jerusalem stone is made from a pale form of limestone and dolomite. This type of stone is extremely dense and far more resistant to weathering than other limestones. As a result, Jerusalem stone is very common as an exterior cladding material.<\/span><\/p>\n The Waterdown Library and Civic Center<\/a> by RDH Architects<\/a>; image via ArchDaily<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Limestone: <\/b>Limestone<\/a> is lauded for its aesthetic diversity and flexibility. In color, limestone ranges from pure whites, beiges, to subtle browns with hints of blue. In texture, limestone ranges from creamy and soft to chunky and harshly veined. Limestone is a great option for building faces because it can be carved and shaped relatively easily.<\/span><\/p>\n Marble House<\/a> by Openbox Architects<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Marble: <\/b>Ma<\/span><\/a>rble has had a rich and tumultuous history. Once the premier material in the architect\u2019s palette, the difficulties of building with marble and the development of cheaper alternatives have led to a steady decline in its use as a fa\u00e7ade treatment. However, as displayed in Architizer\u2019s collection, <\/span>\u201cMarble Marvels: 7 Innovative Stone Fa\u00e7ades<\/a>,\u201d many contemporary architects are working to restore marble to its former glory. <\/span><\/p>\n Kuokkala Church<\/a> by Oopeaa Office for Peripheral Architecture<\/a> is clad in slate tiles<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Slate<\/b>: Slate<\/a> is a fine-grained metamorphic stone that is considered to be an optimal building material for both interior and exterior cladding. Due to its elegant and sophisticated appearance, high durability, excellent water resistance and low maintenance, slate has become a stand-out architectural element in modern design.<\/span><\/p>\n Small samples from your manufacturer will show the typical colors and textures of these aforementioned types of stone. However, they may not properly elucidate the natural variations that are present in large-format stone panels. For this reason, it is extremely beneficial to examine precedents and case studies that harness stone from the particular quarry that you are interested in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Waterdown Library and Civic Center<\/a> by RDH Architects<\/a> features limestone cladding<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n The aesthetics of stone are affected by how the stone is extracted, processed and finished.<\/span><\/p>\n Color: <\/b>As explored in the previous sections of this article, there is extensive variation in the color of natural stone. Basalt is typically dark gray, Jerusalem stone is available in pale hues such as off-white and golden-pink, granite is available in thousands of colors and limestone ranges from white to black, though gray is predominant. If you have a particular color in mind, consult with your manufacturer early on and ask them what colors may be available and suitable for your project.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pattern:<\/b> Similar to color, there is extensive natural variation in the patterns and veining of different stones. In some cases, it is possible to custom order stone for your project. Talk to your manufacturers and get a sense of the options that are available.<\/span><\/p>\n Texture and Finish:<\/b>\u00a0The texture of stone is also extremely varied, ranging from coarsely fragmented to finely grained and completely smooth. Some of the most common terms that you will come across in your material search are polished, honed and sandblasted.<\/span><\/p>\n The street fa\u00e7ade of Beaumaris Dental<\/a> by Demaine Partnership Architects<\/a> features a smooth veneer of polished marble and glass<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n According to The Marble Institute of America<\/a>, a polished<\/strong> finish\u00a0indicates that the stone has been treated to embolden the contrast and character of its natural colors.<\/p>\n A honed<\/strong> finish indicates that\u00a0the stone has been ground down to a smooth and consistent surface. With stones such as granite and marble that possess a natural shine, a honed finish means that the stone’s gloss will be removed, leaving a matte surface. In general, honed finishes are easier to maintain than polished surfaces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sandblasted<\/strong> means that the surface of the stone has been treated with a high pressure blast of silica. This creates a rough but tidy finish that is both finely textured and granular.<\/span><\/p>\n Centre Educatif Ferm\u00e9 \u00e0 Marseille<\/a> by COMBAS Architectes<\/a>; image via COMBAS Architectes<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Sustainability: <\/b>According to Nauenberg, \u201cIn terms of the environmental impact of stone, it\u2019s relatively neutral because you do very little to transform it into a usable state. You just cut it. And in the future when you are done with it, it can still be recycled in its natural form. However, it is important to acknowledge the environmental impact of manufacturers shipping stone internationally, from other parts of the world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Durability: <\/b>Stone is exceptionally strong, dense and well-suited for cladding applications. Keep in mind that some types of stone, including limestone, are particularly vulnerable to weathering.\u00a0Granite, however, tends to retain its color and pattern for a very long time. For this reason, always consider the weathering characteristics of a particular stone before integrating it into your project.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Installation: <\/b>In most cases, installing natural stone requires experienced engineers. Leading up to the execution of your project, make sure that the fabrication team is well suited to safely carry out on-site construction. <\/span><\/p>\n Sea City Museum by Wilkinson Eyre Architects; image via ArchDaily<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Insulation:<\/b> Stone cladding can be easily coupled with thermal insulation products that are designed to reduce the heat loss or heat gain of a building envelope. The insulation should be non-combustible, rot and vermin proof and non-absorbent. In designing the insulation layer, strive for the lowest possible U-Value. <\/span><\/p>\n Maintenance: <\/b>It is important to keep natural stone clean in order to avoid cracking over time. In addition, certain stones may break down or become slick with the oxidizer deposits. In advance of construction, consult with your manufacturer to understand the maintenance requirements of a particular stone.<\/span><\/p>\n The jury is deliberating... stay tuned for the winners of<\/i> Architizer's A+Product Awards<\/i><\/span><\/a>! Register for the <\/i>A+Product Awards Newsletter<\/i><\/span><\/a> to receive future program updates.<\/i><\/p>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Feature image:\u00a0Valletta City Gate<\/a> by Renzo Piano Building Workshop<\/a>, Valletta, Malta<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Steal the show with stone cladding. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":38250,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"architizer_featured_type":"insert","architizer_featured_image":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9433,9411],"tags":[],"architizer_project":[9535,8273,9810,7465,9772,2564,4310,418,4840,9783],"architizer_brand":[9811],"architizer_firm":[9773,9779,9774,9780,9775,9776,9781,9778,9285],"architizer_product":[],"class_list":["post-38386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-product-guide","category-product-guides","architizer_project-alice-tully-hall","architizer_project-beaumaris-dental","architizer_project-boom-by-diller-scofidio-renfro","architizer_project-carehotel-middelpunt-3","architizer_project-garden-mausoleum-at-lakewood-cemtery","architizer_project-kuokkala-church","architizer_project-marble-house-1","architizer_project-offices-for-the-junta-de-castilla-y-leon","architizer_project-the-waterdown-library-and-civic-centre","architizer_project-valletta-city-gate","architizer_brand-island-stone","architizer_firm-alberto-campo-baeza","architizer_firm-architectuuratelier-dertien12-herman-markey","architizer_firm-ariasrecalde-taller-de-arquitectura","architizer_firm-demaine-partnership-architects","architizer_firm-hga-architects-engineers","architizer_firm-leers-weinzapfel-associates","architizer_firm-oopeaa-office-for-peripheral-architecture","architizer_firm-rdh-architects","architizer_firm-renzo-piano-building-workshop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/14527910890821392-046.jpg\")
Basic Categorization<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Material Categorization<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Aesthetics<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Performance<\/span><\/h2>\n
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