Porphyry and the value of distinctive paving materials
Stone pavers like porphyry and its more expensive granite cousin are being designed into numerous places in Toronto. This blog has previously highlighted the wonderful designs and work by WaterFront Toronto, now the nearby entertainment district is re-imagining one of their main streets. Distinctive paving materials and patterns are a necessary part of the project […]
Porphyry and Curbless Streets – Part 2
Porphyry stone pavers can be used on pedestrian surfaces, vehicle surfaces, as well as transition areas. This beautiful and sturdy stone will make any of these memorable. Special paving treatments can enhance the aesthetics of public spaces in a city, give circulation areas a stronger sense of place, and enhance the hierarchy of public spaces. […]
Porphyry and Curbless Streets – Part 1
This first in a series of three blogs about paved streets, public spaces and sidewalks where the street design incorporates curbless streets. This discussion explores the concept first created in the Netherlands, a woonerf. Porphyry and other stone pavers figure prominently in these designs. So what is a woonerf exactly? Picture a regular street, but narrow, minus […]
Porphyry Pavers and GftK High Performance Jointing Mortars
Breakthrough high performance jointing mortars coupled with Porphyry stone paving products provides the strength, beauty and durability needed for commercial applications. The following project shows how these were used together in the Newark Market Square in Newark, Nottinghamshire. Since 1999, Newark District Council has been undertaking an improvement program to the medieval market square using […]
Resurgence in the use of paving stones
Porphyry paving stones and cobblestones have been used globally for millennia in streets and roadways because of their durable nature. In theUnited States stone paving represented growth and stability as great cities developed at ocean and river ports through out the country and were used as a stable foundation for commerce. Cobblestone streets, used for […]
Porphyry and Stone Interiors
Natural stone like Porphyry is making a great comeback in homes with a contemporary design. Stone is non polluting, durable, maintainable and sometimes more affordable than in the past and appeals to designers and project owners alike, attracted by stone’s timeliness. Another in the fabulous Stone Notebooks series, devoted to Stone and Architecture – Interiors is available […]
Will New Projects use Porphyry?
Three new projects have been awarded to design teams with congratulations. In each case, the use of Porphyry paving surfaces would enhance them. This stone of memories would serve all of them well. Kennedy Center-Plaza Project Steven Holl Architects have been selected to design a new, 60,000 square foot addition to the prestigious John F. […]
Porphyry Pavers and Buchanan Street
Porphyry stone has all of the unique beauty and all of the physical properties to create a great commercial street in a challenging climate. To fulfill the design and functional needs of this great street,Scotland’s principal shopping street, and the heart of Glasgow, stone was the easy choice. Gillespies won an international design competition for […]
Porphyry paving and the Glasgow Financial District
Porphyry paving was incorporated into this project to give it special status. This project comprehensively refurbished the public realm of six streets and formed an essential part of the Broomielaw area’s renaissance as part of the Glasgow International Financial Services District. Since completion, investment in the area has accelerated and new developments are rapidly coming […]
Porphyry Cubes and Governors Island
Porphyry like paving cubes are used throughout the renderings of this new park designed by a team under West 8, the landscape and urban planning firm. In the past few years, Governors Island, the former military base in New York Harbor, has become the “it” summer destination for savvy New Yorkers. With free ferry service […]
