In a society increasingly concerned with the safety and durability of our streets, walkways, and even driveways, landscape architects are adopting new paving materials and methods that meet their customers' requirements for both functionality and aesthetics. Ironically, many are turning to a natural stone paver that dates back many centuries when it was first used to design the streets and various monuments in Imperial Rome.
Porphyry, a type of plutonic, igneous rock, is becoming the natural stone of choice for landscape architects who recognize the problems associated with many modern paving techniques. In addition to being one of the most durable options for paving, the variety of colors and design options available makes it one of the most sought-after materials for paving and facing in the U.S., Europe, and around the world.
Image Above: The New Mexico Museum of Art features two courtyard landscapes paved in porphyry, where the stone serves as a foundation for many of the Museum's monumental sculptures. Eric Enfield, an architect with Santa Fe, NM - based Architectural Alliance, Inc. says, "Porphyry is one of the hardest materials in the world and it offers an old-world approach that is absolutely stunning. I know that when I am gone, the porphyry that I designed will still be there."
THE ROYAL STONE
The term "porphyry" is from the Greek and means "purple." Throughout history porphyry was considered a royal stone by emperors, pharaohs and kings and was treasured for its color, texture and hardness. Since the Roman era, roads, public spaces, and squares have been paved with porphyry and many exist to this day throughout Europe.
Its distinctive structure, as well as stratification, determines porphyry's technical characteristics - high compression breaking point, high resistance to chemical agents, high sliding and rolling friction. Porphyry has an even yet rough surface and because of the difference in hardness of the minerals it contains, porphyry pavers do not become smooth due to wear or slippery when wet.
FLEXIBILITY IN DESIGN
Porphyry offers infinite possibilities for uses as it suits many different environments and is both functional and decorative. It is used by landscape architects for everything from country houses, to residential buildings and public and private construction projects. Porphyry can be worked into cubes, pavers, tiles, irregular flagging, curbstones, borders and rustic wall veneer and is also available with sawn or snap cut edges.
Landscape architect Rick Story with SWA Group - recognized as a world leader in landscape architecture, urban design and planning - has used porphyry in a variety of commercial projects. For more than 20 years, SWA group has worked with Stanford University to continuously improve the institution's landscape while preserving the historic beauty of the century old campus. "When it comes to color, texture, and cost, few natural paving materials compare to porphyry," said Story. "The stone lends itself beautifully to an exterior hardscape featuring a rustic yet sophisticated quality."
Landscape architect Rick Story of SWA chose porphyry to accent some of the main areas of the campus that allow students, faculty, and visitors to circulate and gather, like the bicycle routes and campus center.
While the aesthetic appeal of porphyry is enough to catch the attention of many landscape architects, the durability of the stone is perhaps its strongest selling point. Eric Enfield, an architect with Santa Fe, NM - based Architectural Alliance, Inc. has worked with porphyry in a variety of commercial and residential projects. The New Mexico Museum of Art features two courtyard landscapes paved in porphyry, where the stone serves as a foundation for many of the Museum's monumental sculptures.
"In designing the landscape of the Museum, we had to choose a material that wouldn't run the risk of cracking under the weight of its heavy sculptures," said Enfield.
PORPHYRY DESIGN AND PATTERNS
Porphyry cubes are the most recognized style of porphyry. They offer infinite possibilities in different geometrical patterns - arch, circle, fan, or peacock tail - and are sometimes framed by porphyry of a different color. Staggered cubes offer greater resistance to heavy loads and forces and are excellent for road paving.
- 1 inch to 2 inch cubes are recommended for paving that is subject to pedestrian traffic, such as squares in town centers, courtyards, patios, pavements, pool surrounds and garden paths.
- 2 inch to 3 inch cubes are recommended for paving roads subject to mixed traffic (pedestrian and automobiles), both in urban centers and elsewhere. They have also proved extremely useful for paving modern stables.
- 3 inch to 4 inch cubes are suitable for paving areas with intense traffic, heavy loads or where chemicals are present.
- Porphyry pavers and tiles are used to pave walkways, squares, roads, driveways, patio and courtyards. Porphyry creates a beautiful look for interiors with sawn or snap cut sides. Pavers and tiles are recommended for paving exterior surfaces since they are freeze, thaw and slip resistant.
- Pavers and tiles are cut in the following dimensions: widths of 4 inch, 6 inch, 8 inch, 10 inch and 12 inch in random lengths, with thickness available in 1 inch+/- for saw cut and 1 inch to 2 inch or 2 inch to 3 inch for snap cut edges. Squares, rectangles and random lengths are available in both cuts.
Irregular flagging is also a paving method used for exterior surfaces and is particularly suitable for paving squares, patios, courtyards, pavements, pedestrian passages, driveways, garden paths and portals. Because of its rough surface, this material is particularly useful for bordering swimming pools. Porphyry is used in modern architecture to add a personal touch to open spaces and to give buildings an element of functionality and decoration.
Veneer placed flat, one on top of the other, is particularly suitable for facing walls, pillars and wainscots. Placed perpendicularly, side by side, they are used for paving steep sloping roads, particularly in areas subject to frosting and in garage approach ramps.
About the Author -
Miles Chaffee is the founder and president of Milestone Imports, the largest importer of Mexico Porphyry in the U.S. Seven years ago, Chaffee obtained exclusive rights to the largest porphyry quarry in Mexico, located in San Luis de la Paz, GTO, and now distributes the porphyry throughout North America and Asia Working with AECDaily.com, Chaffee has developed a course called "Porphyry as a Permeable Pavement" offering free educational learning credits to more than 12 organizations in Canada and the US Projects include the St. Francis Cathedral Labyrinth, Santa Fe, NM; Sandhill Rosewood Hotel, Menlo Park, CA; Ritz Carlton Hotel, Palm Beach, FL; Disneyland Hong Kong, Fantasy Land and many homes throughout the US and Canada. For more information contact mailto:info@milestoneimports.com
Copyright 2009 Landscape Architect And Specifier News
