A new narrative in natural stone
Natural stone has been vaunted for centuries for its beauty, timelessness and durability. It’s the centrepiece of some of the world’s most significant artistic and architectural achievements – from the Parthenon in Athens to the Taj Mahal and Michelangelo’s David.
Lithic Australia is committed to bringing the highest-quality stone to the Australian market, working with leading architects and designers who demand both aesthetics and permanence in their stone. “In an era defined by rapid consumption and fleeting trends, permanence itself has become an anomaly, often sacrificed in favour of convenience and cost efficiency,” says Martin Spencer, Lithic’s managing director. “We like to think that our exceptional knowledge of natural stone and close relationships with international suppliers are invaluable assets for designers and architects who value both aesthetics and permanence.”
Lithic believes there is no such thing as bad stone, only badly used stone. If utilised incorrectly – particularly in benchtops, bathrooms and high-traffic areas – this can lead to a multitude of issues. “The stone is often blamed for the failure, but the reality is that it’s not the stone – it’s how it has been specified,” says Spencer. Lithic’s intrinsic knowledge of the properties of every stone it stocks means these problems are avoided.
Underpinning the brand’s work is a commitment to respecting natural stone and, by extension, those who use it in their projects. In a world of trend-based design and short-term solutions, Lithic’s experts steer clients towards selecting beautiful stone that is both fit for purpose and highly resilient. “We would never sell stone that’s not right for a project – in fact, we’ve turned down projects because we knew the stone that was specified wouldn’t work the way it needed to. For us, it’s about honouring both the material and the customer.”
For example, the design for a recent commission – a trio of elevator hubs in Newcastle, New South Wales – involved an expensive stone masonry element that wasn’t appropriate. “We were able to recommend a stone that could take the long-term demands of this unique project,” says Spencer. “We then worked closely with the builder and architect to design a solution that utilised solid pieces of marble, which achieved both a structurally superior result and a striking aesthetic, all below the originally proposed cost.”
Not only is permanence at the heart of natural stone’s performance – when it’s used correctly – but responsible quarrying of stone and the growing use of reclaimed stone reflect the sustainable nature of this ancient material.
The Lithic team see natural stone not just as a sustainable building material but as an artefact and a tribute to both permanence and artistry. “I like this quote from the architect Léon Krier,” comments Spencer. “‘Without permanence, without architecture transcending the lifespan of its builders, no public space, no collective expression – such as art – is ever possible.’”
Architecture by ELK Architecture.
