Porphyry Stone Among Incredible Art
Porphyry in this installation is paired with other beautiful stones and mosaics for an amazing experience. When I have visited other Porphyry installations, the Porphyry is the prominent feature. At this beautiful church, the Porphyry shares the spotlight with stone carvings, stone and glass mosaics, frescoes and a one of a kind pipe organ. […]
Porphyry Paving – The Financial Value
The tradition of stone paving with stones like Porphyry is centuries old. Most of our stone knowledge comes from the European quarries and stonemasons. This blog presents research involving the paving and hardscape designs with natural stone. So much of this research emanates from Europe and the United Kingdom. Part of this is because of […]
Porphyry Paving – Overlapping Arcs
Porphyry paving cubes for use in a pattern of overlapping arcs is one of the oldest designs for stone pavement. It has continued in use for centuries due to its stability, beauty and pleasing intricacy. In Europe, one of the more popular layouts is the bogen also known as an overlapping arc, which is often mistaken for […]
Porphyry Paving with Smolleri
Porphyry paving with Smolleri or “Slabs on Edge” is traditionally used for paving surfaces on steep slopes as they present the maximum roughness and the natural split surface is used as a decking for grip. Smolleri are ideal for the paving of roundabouts and other high stress traffic situations. Smolleri can add textural variation to contemporary paving schemes […]
Porphyry Paving by the Book
When we look at a finished residential Porphyry paving project, we are taken with the beauty and symmetry of the finished project. Back up for a moment and think of the design process, the selection of material, the estimating, the grading, the drainage decisions, the layers of material we no longer see, and you will […]
City Park Featuring Porphyry Honored
Porphyry Paving is Prominent Element Porphyry paving along with many additional amenities and design elements in Cincinnati’s Washington Park are recognized by a national organization. Each month, City Parks Alliance recognizes a “Frontline Park” to promote and highlight inspiring examples of urban park excellence, innovation, and stewardship across the country. The program also seeks to […]
Porphyry's role in Living Streets
Porphyry and other natural stone products are seen throughout this report, used as specialized paving elements. Most of the concepts here revolve around traffic calming and storm water management embracing the multiple users of our streets, not just motorized vehicles. “Living streets have no separate sidewalks or curbs and gutters, but rather provide a shared […]
Porphyry Paving and Great Places
Porphyry paving and other paving stones have been designed into the unique and special paving materials called for in the creation of great new places or the refurbishment of existing places. Discussions, plans, and designs for “Great Streets” are popping up everywhere, and the universal concepts are about pedestrian oriented space, an economically viable mix […]
The Economic Value of Porphyry Paving
Unique and beautiful material like Porphyry paving can have a major benefit to a project. Remarkable materials and incredible designs create a high economic value and return on investment and return on perception. A recent report clarifies the extent that this has happened for Chicago’s Millennium Park. This report is based on the book Urban […]
Porphyry Paving and Toronto Woonerf Design Innovations
Stone paving like Porphyry is an element of hardscape used in a woonerf. The first of many opportunities to use the concept of a woonerf is happening in one of the multi faceted areas under the influence of Waterfront Toronto. This area is called the West Dons Land, one of the six main areas of […]
