stone design support

Design is all about decisions.

And the first decision to make in sandstone design is - Does this project design require sandstone?

This is a very important decision to make because optimally detailed sandstone usually requires budget priority. If stone is not integral to a design it is unlikely to be central in a budget, and therefore less likely to be supported towards an aesthetically optimal outcome.

If it is decided that the project does require stone, then it needs to be decided where the element is to be placed, and how much of it is to be placed there.

When a project has to include sandstone, there are methods to increase the chances of an optimal result, and to ensure that the budget for stone delivers value.

The building blocks of an optimal design are:

• inclusion of craft expertise in the design process
• structurally expressive details
• balanced gauging of lengths and heights
• textural attention
• The 10 criteria of sandstone selection

Ways to economise optimal design

• early clarity
• detailing process efficiency. Speed towards decision points. Speed, through decision points
• craft input. "The man with the chisel is aware of craft options."
• creation of systems of production that face the realities of craft process and building process
• negotiating with the concrete structure. A little less concrete quantity may allow for a lot more sandstone quality.