Allure of natural stone
03.2022
When choosing a finishing for a home or architectural project, natural stone seems like the obvious way to go
From the heroic columns of Rome’s Coliseum to the delicate inlay of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican to the deep green stone of Mies Van Der Rohe’s Seagram Building, the element these iconic buildings have in common is their generous, decadent use of natural stone. More than just an aesthetic choice, natural stone is prized for its longevity and strength: a building constructed in stone can stand tall for centuries, even millennia.
When choosing a finishing for a home or architectural project, natural stone seems like the obvious way to go. But with the rise of faux stone and printed ceramics designed to mimic natural stone, it’s helpful to understand why natural stone is the superior choice for any project.
The first, and often most important, aspect to note regarding natural stone is texture. While replicas and faux materials can easily imitate natural stone’s colouring and appearance (to an extent), its texture is impossible to replicate. Whether the smooth, cool touch of Bianco Carrara or the porous face of travertine, the texture of natural stone adds depth and character, whatever its intended use.
Also important to note are the minuscule imperfections inherent to natural stone — small bubbles, veins of colour, minor irregularities — which make the material truly unique. The texture of natural stone can be compared to the pattern of a snowflake or the grain of a piece of wood, no two versions are ever alike. What the untrained eye mistakes for faults, are, in reality, the material’s most prized characteristics — what sets natural stone apart.
Compared to faux stone, whose surface is most often rendered by means of digital printing, thus removing the possibility of spontaneous colour combinations and natural motifs, using natural stone creates a more organic, true-to-life feel within any project. No matter how realistic the replica, no copy can match the aura and soul of the real thing.
In addition to aesthetic aspects, natural stone is infinitely more hard-wearing than any other comparable material, making it an excellent choice for any type of interior or exterior project. Though other materials may look similar, it is impossible to recreate the robustness and durability of natural stone. Salvatori products — with our vast array of stone choices and textures created by many of the top designers working today — blend equal parts strength and beauty. When it comes to elegance, there is no material that comes close to natural stone.
Our commitment to natural stone forces us to continuously rethink its role in contemporary design, which is why Salvatori collaborates with talented designers from across the globe to interpret it with an unparalleled sense of style. From floors, walls and countertops to sinks, bathtubs and shower trays all the way to tabletop accessories and tools for the kitchen, the versatility of natural stone is unmatched. Indeed, thousands of years later, the Coliseum still stands strong as a testament to its enduring allure.