Building the New Stone Age

Pierre Bidaud of the Stonemasonry Company will discuss how new ways of thinking aligned to new technologies are changing the way we build in stone. From augmented stone, to using stone structurally, stone is set to play an increasingly important part in building a low carbon future.  Amin Taha’s Groupwork have designed a 10-storey block of flats in Finchley Road, north London, built with load-bearing larvikite stone from Lundhs quarry in Norway. Taha describes the project as 'the first 10-storey, loadbearing self-finished stone structure without steel reinforcement/secondary structure since the last stone cathedrals'. The Norwegian larvikite stone requires significantly less extraction, transportation, and on-site erection compared to typical concrete construction methods, resulting in reduced costs and lower embodied carbon. Chairperson Vanessa Norwood, Consultant for the built environment - Vanessa Norwood Speakers Pierre Bidaud, Creative Director - The Stonemasonry Company Amin Taha, Architect & Chairman - GROUPWORK Benjamin Ayling, UK Business Development Manager - Lundhs Eleonora Regni, Associate - Webb Yates