Harnessing stone as a structural material can make architecture more enjoyable to both build and inhabit argues Tristram Carfrae, an Arup engineer working on the Sagrada Familia, in this Stone Age 2.0 interview.
Carfrae, who is a deputy chair of engineering firm Arup, believes that the potential of stone in architecture lies far beyond what it is typically reduced to in modern design ? an opulent surface material.
"Stone has become a luxury cladding material, whether used as a rainscreen, or as floor tiling," Carfrae told Dezeen.
"We need to reposition stone back from a luxury material to a utilitarian one ? which also happens to be beautiful," he explained.
"We have to start demonstrating stone's potential." Stone is "plentiful, natural, low carbon and beautiful"
Dezeen spoke to Carfrae as part of Stone Age 2.0, a series exploring the material's potential as a durable, low-carbon alternative to steel and concrete. For him, there are many benefits to reintroducing stone in construction, with the most obvious stemming from its qualities as a natural material.
"The main benefit of structural stone is that it is a plentiful, natural, low carbon and beautiful material," said Carfrae.
"It can also transform the construction process and result in a structure that combines natural materials, traditional craftsmanship and digitally driven manufacturing to provide a building that people can better relate to, that provides greate...