Introduction to Natural Stone as Art
To me natural stone is nature’s art with every slab a unique creation of the earth, telling a story that can never be replicated. The variety, depth and uniqueness is so incredibly beautiful. It is a true luxury and privilege that we get to work with and have access to natural stone to create our buildings and interiors.
A finite material that has been formed over centuries, each piece is part of our earth, each piece unique, never to be re-created. There is a sense of duty to respect it, respect where it has come from and that it can never be re-created, and design carefully considered spaces and objects with it, that will last and be appreciated for many years. Stone should not be seen as a trend, it should be seen as an investment in something you truly love and cherish.
When you invest in stone, there is an obligation to treasure it. If anything, stone gets more beautiful as it is worn and ages, developing a natural patina of time and gaining more depth and character adding to the treasure and beauty. My favourite cities are built with stone, and have lasted hundreds of years and will last many more. And so, the buildings, spaces and objects we make today should be the same.
Stone as Central to Design
Stone is a foundational material in my design practice. It often becomes the central element, with the rest of the material palette built around it. I’m drawn to its imperfections and the way it evolves over time, becoming more beautiful with wear. This is especially true for historical stones, like those in Roman streets or Parisian malls, which have a timelessness that no other material offers.
Selecting stone
My relationship with stone is deeply emotional and intuitive. Much like selecting artwork or colour, it is a subjective and personal experience and to me there is no right or wrong. Much like art galleries, stone galleries and quarries have always been my sanctuary and visiting them to select stone for my projects is one of my favourite parts of the job. Photos never capture the true colour, depth and tone of seeing the material in the flesh, so it is crucial to see them before making final selections.
Stone allows me to bring depth, atmosphere, and history into every project. I am a lover of colour and pattern and no other material has such density of colour. Usually colour is a surface level application but with stone, there is full depth. More and more I see a draw to the saturated hues of Brazilian quartzites for their bold tones. I encourage clients to trust their gut when making their selections and to look at slabs like paintings in the gallery.
The other thing I love to do more and more in projects, is combine stone to create new colour combinations and patterns. There are endless possibilities to mix different unexpected stones to create something truly original.
Often clients can be initially fearful of the bolder and more dramatic stones, but getting to see them in reality changes that and often they are happy to make braver selections. Pre-conceived ideas about marble can slow down the selection process, ranging from it being too glitzy, ostentatious, cold and shiny.
None of these things need to be true. I like to work with stone in its more natural state, in honed and rough finishes. I tend to find this softer and warmer and nothing like the outdated associations. Stone does not need to be glitzy, ostentatious, cold or shiny, it can be warm, tactile, earthy and grounding, even appearing soft and inviting.
Quality and the Craft of Working with Stone
Similarly to most things in construction, the material is only as good as the quality of the implementation. And working with the right people is crucial to achieving the long lasting result that is worthy of the natural stone. My recommendation when choosing a stone partner, is to see their work in advance and make sure you are happy with the details, the finish and the overall quality of work.
Many people can buy in beautiful stone. It is a rare art to be able to work with it properly and fit it well. Part of the investment is in the fitting and if the cost seems too good to be true, be careful.
True creativity with stone requires understanding its technical properties and each stone has different properties and challenges. Over the years, our collaboration with Miller Brothers Stone has been instrumental in developing our work with stone.
Their technical expertise has allowed us to explore new possibilities and push boundaries, especially in challenging projects like the Infinity House staircase. This project exemplifies how technical knowledge and artistic vision can come together to create something extraordinary.
The Infinity House Staircase
One of my proudest achievements is the serpentine Vitoria Regia quartzite staircase at Infinity House. We wanted to create a soft, sinuous form from a dense, hard material—an aesthetic and structural challenge.
The staircase’s sweeping curves and bold green patterns became the focal point of the space, adding a sense of movement and drama that elevates the entire design. This was an extremely challenging project to design and to implement with curves on all sides and a tight and difficult location to access within a
conservation period property. Miller Brothers worked with their engineer to navigate how best to create this piece and designed it multiple times to best achieve the result. It is a testament to the blend between good design and implementation.
Pushing Creative Boundaries
As my studio continues to evolve, we push ourselves to explore new ways of using stone, both aesthetically and technically. Stone is more than a material; it’s a medium that allows us to create spaces with depth, beauty, and magic. Its timelessness ensures that the designs we create today will continue to inspire for generations to come.
To find out more about Roisin’s work, you can visit her website.
