Henge Pavilion inspired by Stonehenge at London Design Festival

On exhibition at Wren Landing Square Canary Wharf, London, until November 8.

‘Henge’ was a creative project designed to be at one of the biggest design events in the world. The pavilion was part of the London Design Festival that took place between September 17 and 25.

Inspired by the more than 1,300 prehistoric stone circles and monuments that are scattered across Britain, Ireland and Brittany, Henge is a participatory sculptural form that invites those who work, live, and visit the area to engage with it creatively, by using it as a space for contemplation and reflection as well as an inclusive civic arena for performances, music, poetry readings, etc.

A space to take a break from the hectic rhythm of urban life, in order to reconnect to our community – past, present, and future.

‘Henge is free to visit until Thursday 8th November. It is an LSI Stone, Stanton Williams and Webb Yates Engineers initiative in collaboration with experimentadesign and the London Design Festival, and with support from SEAM Design and Light Projects.

Why the selection of this particular type of stone?

With its extraordinarily rich, textured surfaces, the 150-million-year- old Jurassic limestone we have chosen is an obvious reference to the materiality of these ancient structures. Different types of Portuguese limestone were used with two finishes, splitted on the outer face. and honed on the remaining faces .

It is a material that brings that temporal dimension that trying to evoke into the design, as well as being zero carbon and recyclable.

Henge sketch © Stanton Williams

What comes next?

The art piece after the exhibition is over will have an equally sustainable future.

Very soon it will be announced.

Photograph: Mark Cocksedge x London Design Festival.
Source: London Design Festival, Stanton Williams

October 11, 2022

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Work of Art by LSI Stone at National Coach Museum

Lisbon hosted the celebration of the Primeira Pedra programme on 23rd June, on a day that began with a Conference at the Tivoli BBVA Theatre and ended with the opening of a major retrospective exhibition at the National Coach Museum.

After six years since the debut of this cultural research program, at the 15th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale. In May 2016 after the materialization of numerous presentations in other countries, the Portuguese and international public will be able to get to know the set of more than 70 works produced in Portuguese stone by the respective national extraction and transformation industry. Throughout this period, this Portuguese material, sustainable and of great importance, was the creation material for 36 authors – architects, designers and artists – from 15 different nationalities.

On June 23rd, more than two thirds of the 36 authors of Primeira Pedra will take place in Lisbon together with several of the national and international partners of this project, which was shown in a segmented way through exhibitions or installations in some of the most prestigious institutions or cultural events in cities such as Venice, Milan, Weil am Rhein, Basel, São Paulo, London, New York and Dubai.

The First Stone Exhibition 2016 I 2022

The exhibition Primeira Pedra 2016 I 2022 crowns six years of work and research in the field of contemporary culture that have generated more than 70 original works in Portuguese stone, made by industry, but also national hand-qualified craftsmen.

It is a world premiére, which brings together for the first time the 74 pieces produced during the course of the programme by 36 celebrated authors from the national and international cultural and artistic panorama at the National Coach Museum.

The great retrospective exhibition is shown in what is one of the most important national museums and next to what is the largest collection of Coaches in the world, a collection of unequalled value and a part of Portuguese and world cultural history.

The exhibition is held in co-production with the National Coach Museum.

The First Stone Project

Primeira Pedra was born from an invitation to experimentadesign made by Assimagra – Portuguese Association of Manufacturers of Marble, Granite and Related Branches, in 2015, which aimed to innovate the sector and explore its potential, give it more value and visibility.

Primeira Pedra reveals the possibilities of the Portuguese stone, not only in the material and aesthetic sense, but also as a fundamental agent in the sustainable economic, technological and cultural development.

Work of Art by LSI Stone

LSI Stone has produced art by the artists Sagmeister & Walsh, Jorge Silva, Eduardo Souto de Moura, Ian Anderson and Jonathan Barnbrook.

You can find out more about the works on the official website of the First Stone project. Click here.

Source: http://museudoscoches.gov.pt/pt/mncoches-exposicao-primeira-pedra-2016-2022-experimentadesign/

June 24, 2022

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Protocol brings together LSI Stone and Polytechnic Institut of Leiria in the attraction and retention of talent

The Polytechnic Institute of Leiria and the company LSI Stone are now formal partners in what concerns training, talent capture and retention, but also in the promotion of internships, training actions, culture, research, mobility, internationalization and patronage.

The protocol was signed on 16th May, at the Central Services of the Polytechnic of Leiria, between the president of the Polytechnic, Rui Pedrosa, and Regina Vitório, CEO and founding partner of LSI Stone.

In terms of on-the-job training, the collaboration involves carrying out internships and final course projects, promoted by the Polytechnic, within the scope of training in Higher Technical Professional Courses, degrees and master’s degrees.

The protocol also foresees the joint promotion of seminars, workshops, cooperation in the development of short courses, post-graduate courses or others, “including in the scope of the European University” led by the institution of Leiria, reads a press release.

The creation of artistic residencies at LSI Stone premises or other spaces identified by the company and the implementation of co-creation projects are other cooperation objectives.

Regarding research, the document foresees the development of projects mainly related to sustainability, and the study of new forms of international mobility for students or teachers of the Polytechnic of Leiria and employees of the company.

In the area of internationalization, it is intended to “promote greater connectivity through networks and international consortiums” that the Polytechnic is part of. And in the patronage area, to support initiatives such as the “attribution of scholarships to the best students” and to establish a closer contact with the entrepreneurial fabric in order to promote the integration of these students in the work market, explains the Polytechnic of Leiria in the same note.

For Rui Pedrosa, cited in the statement, “the signing of this protocol is a great opportunity to connect to the sector of mineral resources and stone transformation, which is a very relevant asset of the region, whether from the point of view of employment created, added value or exports.

Regina Vitório, founding partner of LSI Stone, considers the partnership.

“Important for the sector, which is often seen on the sidelines of other industries, because natural stone is still considered a raw and dusty thing, when in reality this is no longer the case. We are already a very modernized and appealing industry, and we intend to modernize it even more. For that, we count on the Polytechnic of Leiria.”

May 25, 2022

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5 Ways to make Art with Stone

Stone only has advantages when applied somewhere. Besides its durability, there is something that also makes it different from other raw materials: its adaptability. From just one block of stone, various artistic creations can emerge.

1.

From just one block of stone , various artistic creations can emerge. Let’s start with sculpture, the transparency of how a person can be portrayed through a bust or simply half of their body can be conveyed in stone. Sculpting all the features of a person is something really challenging, both for their physical features and their facial expressions. The same thoroughness is taken into account when animals are sculpted, or even monuments.

2.

Bust and reality. is an art that makes a bust almost unmistakable with reality, but it is not only the sculpture that has this power, but also the relief of natural elements. Nature is one of the oldest ways to express art, it is visible in still life painting in the 19th century. With stone is no exception, LSI Stone portrays nature through subtle salience in every design.

Embossing ends up being a junction between classical and modernism. Monuments thousands of years old integrate relief into their construction to enhance beauty or even movement.

3.

The importance of the relief of things, plays a key role when it comes to the description of 4D version elements. These are mainly present in works of art with different types of stone, which in the end form a complete image. You can see in the map below the various qualities of stone that were used, in this one particularly LSI Stone used water jetting to make the perfect finish to the masterpiece.

Credits: Joana Linda

4.

When it comes to exteriors, it’s possible to use the stones themselves in a different way; for example, stones can be transformed into urban art. This only brings advantages, buildings that had an old look take on a new life in a natural way.

Credits: Basilio Artist

5.

Last but not least, decoration. Needless to say, there are a thousand and one ways to make decorative pieces whether they are for everyday use or not. The furniture in a house doesn’t have to be boring! It can contain decorative details to enhance the beauty of the product. Allied to beauty is the detail of the product that LSI Stone can achieve. Innovative and exclusive pieces are part of our standard. LSI Stone can make a dream come true in stone. With quality material and always with a sustainable conscience.

April 5, 2022

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Granite and its adaptability to any environment

THE UPSIDE OF BUYING GRANITE

Let’s start with the first positive side of buying granite, its homogeneity. Granite presents a homogeneous pattern and hardly integrates imperfections. For those who know granite, they know that it is naturally impossible to contain fossils in its integrity. Why is this so? Because granite comes from volcanic lava that has cooled over time. Needless to say, granite also contains no water lines, so it can adapt to any weather condition without breaking or cracking.

Granite adapts to every personal taste. The best known is indeed the gray granite, but there are other qualities of granite that present very appealing colors. Direct from the north and south of Portugal to LSI Stone, we consider it one of the most popular granites in Portugal at the moment.

Rare is the kitchen in Portugal that does not have granite on the countertop. For years it has been very famous both in private homes and even in large scale buildings. But why granite? It’s simple, because of its durability and adaptability. It is a very practical type of stone when it comes to cleaning, not to mention easy to repair when damaged (which almost never happens).

Adaptable to various weather conditions, granite is a natural element that suits both the inside of the house and the outside.

Naturally Granite

Granite itself appeals to sustainability, if the stone is dirty, you can just wipe it clean with a damp cloth. Even if it’s something harder to remove, you can rub it off because this type of stone doesn’t scratch that easily! It is also a great option for those who are starting a sustainable life, for example, when you make food by the fire, you can put it directly from the fire onto the granite without causing any damage to the stone.
Betting on granite is also betting on your health. Having a natural element is an asset to the process of cutting food, because it prevents other flavors and chemicals from being integrated into it.

Everything that is cared for, lasts longer. The same happens with stone, if each one takes good care of what they have at home, it will end up lasting generations like the great-grandmothers’ house in portugal.

March 4, 2022

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Can the stone imperfection be a problem?

Is different the new perfect?

Just like us, beings of nature have imperfections, we are different and have different origins. The same happens with stone. So you must be aware that it is normal for some stones to have imperfections, in fact, that is what makes them unique, right?

Sustainability

WANTED: Perfection in the nature of things

Examples of production rejected. Cause: it contains trace fossils and/or water lines

Lately we have been seeing a tremendous search for perfection, from the personal way, to the professional way, or even in the perfection of things. However, perfection is unfortunately unattainable, so we are left with near perfection.

In these photos you can see the defects that some of our materials have. The cluster of fossils is really what stands out the most, but is this a problem? Actually, no, clusters fossils have only one problem: aesthetics.

As for water lines, you have to pay attention to the atmospheric conditions where they will be integrated. In the Nordic countries it has a major disadvantage because it can lead to breakage.

Some of LSI Stone’s productions are rejected for their small details of nature. Being a natural product, it is impossible to control its production. Even so, our quality control does its best to achieve perfection by always ensuring a homogeneous color in the product.

IMPERFECTION = UNIQUE

Marble is considered one of the most coveted luxury products in the world. However, it is not perfect either. As we can see in the picture below, marble also has some lines that end up distorting its shape a bit.

Being a product that lasts for years, stone is naturally unmanageable. Betting on different products is the new trend! Allied to the minimalist style, stone with small agglomerated traces of fossils, may be the near future. Supporting sustainability from this perspective may also be an option. The difference in a product makes the piece unique and exceptional.

Onyx and the possibility of integrating the deformity into luxury

Limestone is a very peculiar stone that inserts several qualities. As its extraction is located in the Serras de Aire and Candeeiros Natural Park, that includes stalactites and stalagmites such as the Mira de Aire Caves are among them, being one of the seven natural wonders of Portugal. The mineral rich water flowed through the limestone for thousands of years, the stalactites generated a different kind of onyx.

There is no way of knowing whether or not Onyx exists inside the stone, this discovery is only made when the block enters the production/modification process. To combat waste LSI Stone decided to give new life to what is considered a luxury product. This makes waste sustainable, and adds value to something that took so many years to be built by nature.

February 7, 2022

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Portuguese Cobblestone

Portuguese cobblestone is one of the great Portuguese heritages – a symbol of the city of Lisbon. Wherever you go in Portugal, from big cities to small villages, you will find Portuguese cobblestone on the pavement.

This art of making the pavement patterned and colourful emerged in the 15th century by King Manuel I, who had small pieces of stone implemented in Lisbon’s pavement. This design uses small cubic shaped natural stones, usually light in colour. There is, however, a variation of darker stones that are applied to create different patterns.

From Katarzayma Jaiklewi+

From Julie Dawn

From NCultura

Largo do Chiado, Lisbon

Coimbra University entry, Coimbra

Padrão dos Descobrimentos in Belém, Lisbon

This pavement quickly became an art inspired by Roman mosaics and patterns rich in symmetry and different shapes, from Caravels to birds.

There are many variations and techniques to apply Portuguese cobblestone. However, the perfect execution of the Portuguese cobblestone is made by qualified people named “calceteiros” with a lot of experience, as this is a unique and traditional art that requires a lot of talent.

Portuguese Cobblestone around the world

Although the cobblestone is typically Portuguese, it quickly spread to various parts of the world.

Calçadão in Rio de Janeiro

Memorial to John Lennon in Central Park, NY

Senado Square, Macau

From Living Mosaics

From Imagine Piece

Why is portuguese cobblestone a trend?

The Portuguese cobblestone is a timeless art. By applying this art to your project, you are for sure creating something fantastic that will bring a new luxury to your design. You can create cut-to-size projects, with unique elements and how the customer desires.

These are some of the examples located in the city of Lisbon.

From Comunidade Cultura e Arte

From Magazine da Cidade

From VortexMag

Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon

Praça do Marquês de Pombal, Lisbon

Cais do Sodré, Lisbon

From Expresso

From LisbonLux

From Pinterest

Rua de São Tomé in Alfama, Lisbon

Parque das Nações, Lisbon

Largo de Camões, Lisbon

Which are the most common types of Cobblestone?

The stones used to design Portuguese pavement usually are limestone, granite and basalt. Taking into account the desired result, these are the most common:

Limestone

Limestone is one of the most common stones used in paving in Portuguese cobblestone. This stone is extracted in central Portugal and is more commonly applied on all types of pavement. The stone is composed of different types of calcium carbonate crystals, mostly calcite and aragonite. Normally, its dimensions vary between 40x60mm and 100x110mm, for artistic sidewalks and pedestrian sidewalks, however, the stone can be cut for cut-to-size projects. Limestone can represent many colours, from light/white to grey, beige and dark/black.

Granite

Granite stone is one of the hardest and densest stones, is suitable for any type of application and location. Granite is mainly composed of quartz, mica and feldspar. The stone is extracted in the north of Portugal and takes proportions from 40x60mm to 100x110mm, depending on whether it is being used for Artistic Sidewalks or Roads, and it can be adapted for cut-to-size projects. Granite is essential for the creation of colourful and multi-coloured patterns, with the most common being for a more grey and yellow paving.

Basalt

Most sidewalks and patterns are made with limestone and granite, however, basalt stone is used for specific situations where the objective is to contrast with a darker and more homogeneous stone. This type of stone is only used in small proportions and is distinguished by its irregularity in the cut, as this is a material that is difficult to work with. Usually, black coloured basalt is used, which is easily confused with black limestone.

August 3, 2021

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The perfect Natural Stone for your bathroom

Natural Stone recommended for your bathroom

Natural stone is suitable for every part of the house- with the right application and maintenance.

A bathroom is a place where a lot of humidity and water can get infiltrated in the walls and flooring. For that reason, it is important to choose a stone with low porosity or with the right finish or sealant. Some finishes also help to protect the stone, although they need to be taken into account for security reasons.

Most limestones and marbles are porous stones, so it is necessary to apply treatment, such as a proper finish or a correct sealant. When it comes to granites, it is different: granites don’t have porous, so it is the perfect stone to apply anywhere, especially in bathrooms and countertops.

Things you need to know before using natural stone

1

Natural stone is porous: even though you can apply finishes or sealants to try and minimize water absorption, it needs to be maintained and sealed again so it doesn’t create mould or fungi.

2

Stone is slippery: the best finish to protect the stone from humidity is polished- but, with this finish, natural stone gets extremely slippery. In a bathroom, you want to avoid slippery materials, so, even though you can use this finish only on the walls and apply a sealant on the floor, it is not recommended.

3

Maintenance: you want to avoid using detergents or cleaning agents that might damage or discolour the stone. Some aggressive detergents might create an irritation on the stone, while others might pass moisture into the stone surface and stain it.

4

Stone is cold: most types of stone are cold materials that tend to cool down space where they are applied. Thus, natural stone is a great heat conductor so you can apply heated flooring so that your bathroom is always warm and cosy.

5

Reinforcement on the flooring: no matter the thickness of the stone, it is important to reinforce the subfloor underneath the stone tile before it is installed.

Although porous natural stones are not recommended for bathrooms, they can be applied with the required elements: sealants, maintenance, and proper finishing.

These are some of our suggestions:

Marbles

Pele de Tigre

Pele de Tigre is a marble from Portugal with a white color, fine to medium grain, a distinct irregular dark blue veins and a relatively high degree of hardness. Some variations occur in characteristics such as vein intensity and pattern, color and structure.

Estremoz Lagoa

Estremoz Lagoa is a marble of Portugal with a white, grayish and blue color, thin to medium and brownish veins. It has a relatively high degree of hardness, is widely available and is suitable for coating, interior decoration, medium to high traffic pavements, coatings and other stones.

Estremoz White

Estremoz White is a marble from Portugal with a white color, fine to medium grain and brownish veins. It has a relatively high degree of hardness, is widely available and is suited for cladding, interior decoration, medium to high traffic flooring, coverings and other stonework.

Ruivina

Ruivina is a marble from Portugal with a grey color, dark blue tone, medium grain and distinct veins. It also has some white shaded zones and a relatively high degree of hardness.

Limestones

Moleanos

Moleanos is a Portuguese limestone with light beige coloured background and a slight greyish tonality, with thin to medium grain and disperse brownish fine spots.
With a medium hardness, it’s frequently used for cladding, pavements, interior decor, street furniture and other stoneworks.

Atlantic Blue

Atlantic Blue is a limestone from Portugal with a blue homogeneous color and thin grain. It has some dark blue dots, lighter and darker areas and, sometimes, a distinct dark blue vein.

Hard Blue

Hard Blue is a limestone from Portugal with a blue homogeneous color and thin grain. It has some dark blue dots, lighter and darker areas and, sometimes, a distinct dark blue vein.

June 14, 2021

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Facts that will make you choose Natural Stone

Why should you choose natural stone?

Natural stone is a flexible material that can easily be used in many areas and spaces. In this post, we will take you on the main point of why you should opt for natural stone for your projects.

Choosing natural stone means opting for a unique product that comes from nature.
New materials strive to imitate its beauty, but genuine natural materials connect us with our planet and its future in a unique and undeniable way.

More and more, we see architects and designers are opting for natural stone products. The authentic and timeless character and durability of natural stone offer an absolute added value for every house or project! New technologies are also keeping the stone at the forefront with innovative interior design trends, introducing new textures and patterns.

Here are some of the reasons why you should opt for natural stone:

Easy to maintain

It lasts forever

Sustainable material

Most natural stones are easy to maintain. Of course, there are some stones that, for being too porous or too soft, require more maintenance. But overall, it is a material that can keep its original form for a long time.

One of the most durable materials- it lasts forever. When we take a look at history’s long art pieces, we see that most of these sculptures and buildings are made with natural stone. It is no secret that stone stands forever.

A sustainable material that combines beauty with an ecological footprint. It is produced by nature. It doesn’t require the use of energy or power to be created. Nowadays, its transformation is done using small amounts of energy, and most of the energy that it uses is renewable.

Adds value to your home

Health Benefits

Large variety

Creates art in your home and adds value. Because stone lasts forever, you are sure that you have a timeless material.

Natural stone is an amazing material to have at your house to surround yourself with natural elements. Natural stone has a positive health effect because its free of synthetic materials.

You can find stones of many shapes and sizes, colours and patterns, porosity and durability.

So, it is time for you to adapt your place to the beauty of the natural stone.

May 28, 2021

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Marble Countertops: clean, prevent and seal

The Beauty of Natural Stone

As mentioned before, marble is one of the most desirable natural stones for countertops to maintain. You can choose a marble countertop and still last you years to come. After all, natural stone lasts forever.

Marble has one the largest ranges of colours, veining and patterns in natural stone. So, it is one of the most flexible stones to adapt to in any style.

Marble and how to protect it

Marble is mainly composed of calcium carbonate, and most of them are very porous. For this reason, it reacts to acid solutions such as lemon juice, wine, tomato sauce or even acidic cleaners. These simple but deadly components can etch and create spots on the stone.

At this point, you can either choose to embrace marble’s natural characteristics or apply another treatment for the stone to achieve its original shape.
So, for you to keep your marble countertops shiny as new, follow these simple guidelines.

#1 Cleaner - Act fast, Clean faster!

Using abrasive cleaners is the first non-recommendation when it comes to marble care. Instead, you can combine warm water with a non-abrasive, mild or pH-neutral soap. This mix gently cleans a marble countertop without damaging it.

After you mix these two ingredients, gently spray the surface and absorb the stains and grease areas. After all is cleaned, completely dry the area with an absorbent cloth. Avoid using a scrubber or scrub brush on the surface because it can damage the stone.

#2 Prevention - better late than ever!

Organic Food

Being a very porous stone, marble easily stains and quickly absorbs any ingredient. Besides the daily maintenance routine, sometimes difficult stains get absorbed by the stone. When these unexpected stains happen, you need to act fast and quickly sop up any standing liquids and dry the surface.

When it comes to organic food, it’s recommended to clean with a 12% hydrogen peroxide solution embed in a few drops of ammonia. If the stain is oil-based, gently clean with any liquid cleanser that has acetone or mineral spirits in it. Don’t forget to use small quantities.

Acid Incidents

When it comes to acid incidents, it is best to avoid them at maximum because marble reacts almost immediately to acid, and usually, there is no way out. Thus, if an incident of that nature happens, for example, a water spot or a light scratch, you can try and correct the etching by gently buffing your countertop with a dry #0000 steel wool. But, if the etching is deeper than surface level, you probably need to look for professional help to re-polish your marble. Etching is when an ingredient damages the stone, “eating” the surface.

Daily Procedures

The most famous finishes for marble countertops are honed and polished finish. A polished finish is when the surface looks shiny; a honed finish looks matte. Etching marks look more noticeable on a polished finish than on a honed finish.

If you prepare your food on a marble countertop, you will need to wipe any spills immediately and avoid putting ingredients directly on the marble. Always use coasters and under plates. Marble tolerates heat, but it is recommended to protect the surface from hot pans and pots, so it doesn’t stain the stone. After each meal, clean up any residues that might be on the table so it doesn’t stain or etch.

#3 Sealing- Always protect your marble!

Sealants are applied to the surface of your countertop as a protective barrier to help avoid stains and other exterior factors that might affect the stone’s look. If you leave, for example, a wine spill overnight, it will be difficult to remove even with a sealant. The sealant only gives you a little more time to clean the stone. You can ask your marble supplier to apply a proper sealant when delivering the final piece- usually, most do.

However, sealants tend to fade away over time, depending on the type of sealing, it usually lasts up to three to four years. After that period, you can ask professionals to re-seal or you can re-apply yourself at home. Nowadays, you can find affordable sealants online to apply directly to your countertops. First, you clean your countertop with the mix of mild soap and warm water; after scrubbing, carefully scrape the existing sealant with a proper tool; and dry the surface well enough, apply the sealant as the instructions follow.

In summary, having a marble countertop has its ups and downs, but at the end of the day, you choose a forever material to your home that will give you character and a piece of nature into your home. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

April 23, 2021

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