VOLUME 3 | 2017 ogind.com/mason
JANUARY 2017
realstone SYSTEMS
TM
Inspiring. T imeless. Enduring.
Kara - word count is ~ 433
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Kara
Kara R. Oneglia Vice-President O&G Industries, Inc.
2
about o&g O&G industries is one of the Northeast’s leading providers of construction services and products. Founded in 1923 by Andrew Oneglia and Flaviano Gervasini, the two set out to build a small business based on the principles of quality, service, and excellence in craftsmanship. They defined the company culture, deeply rooted in a commitment to family values. Led by the the fourth generation of the Oneglia family, O&G is now one of the most diverse and respected construction and materials companies and ranked as one of America’s 400 largest construction firms.
contributing EDITORS
Mark Arigoni, LA is a Principal of Milone & MacBroom. He sits on the Connecticut State Board of Landscape Architecture and serves on the Committee on Nominations for the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards.
Simone Armillotta is the U.S. Sales Engineering representative for Gruppo Concorde Spa in a national collaboration with Oldcastle Architectural Inc. He holds a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree, from the Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia.
James A. Barrett, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is a Principal with Drummey Rosane Anderson (DRA). DRA provides strategic planning, programming, and design services for communities, institutions, and companies who are considering their options for future use, growth, and development.
Jessica Ciccarello, Director of Markteing at Techo-Bloc is responsible for the strategy, content creation, creative direction, and branding of all B2B and B2C marketing initiatives, both online and offline.
Lisa Davenport has been an interior designer for over twenty years. She finds the magic in her job each and every day. Her passion is breathing new life into classic items, like the custom chair she made out of a 1941 Lincoln Zephyr. “Old favorites have a history just waiting to be told.”
Rick Filloramo is Director of Industry Development and Technical Services for the International Masonry Institute (IMI), New England Region. He has more than 40 years of experience in the masonry industry and has been involved with the design, construction, or inspection of over 5,000 projects.
Louis Fusco, RLA, ASLA, Principal of Louis Fusco Landscape Architects, is known for his site-sensitive creative designs. His award-winning Fairfield and Westchester County estate, commercial, and university campus projects have been featured in numerous publications.
Daniel Granniss, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP a Principal at The S/L/A/M Collaborative since 2000. He has experience in all phases of a project from site analysis and regulatory compliance through conceptual design, design development, construction documents, and contract administration.
Cameron Henry is Architectural Apprentice with Charles Hilton Architects. He has a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Notre Dame. Cameron specializes in classical architecture and historic preservation. .
Deborah Martin is Principal and Creative Director of her interior design firm, Deborah Martin Designs. Her signature designs create versatile, distinctive, and livable interiors for her clients. “It’s all about the details.”
Mike Plaster is the Marketing Communication Manager for Marshalls plc in Great Britain. He develops marketing communication plans and messages to meet marketing objectives. He is a graduate of The University of Hull in the United Kingdom.
Shea Quarton is the National Accounts and Eastern US Architectural Sales Manager for Realstone Systems. Prior to relocating to Washington D.C. earlier this year, Shea was the Architectural and Dealer Sales Manager for the Midwest.
Nancy Spaulding, ASLA, is the owner of Spaulding Landscape Architects and is licensed in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York. She earned her Master’s in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University.
Matt Tobin is a professional freelance writer for a number of magazines including Edible Nutmeg, Washington Depot, and the Professional Writer Publication. A graduate of The New School in New York City, he studied professional writing and literature.
Bernadette White, V ice President of Cancos Tile & Stone Corporation, she travels the world looking for the latest natural stone materials. She is a graduate of Hofstra University.
24
The Making of a Modern-Day Great Estate
French country inspired renovation with natural stone and brick
Equine Magic in Central Park
52
The Rolex® Central Park Horse Show returns
Illuminating Great Design
16
Matchmaking Design
34
Honoring the Echoes
40
Proper lighting is a must, not an after thought The interplay of colors and materials
78
Converting an historic factory complex into lurury space
Zones of Experience
Symbolism as a master planning tool
52
Case Study: Miss Porter’s School Marrying past with present
Elements
Daylighting
Why natural is best
Masonry Design
Site walls done right
Reflections On Work
Fabulous Natural Stone Fireplace Surrounds Fire up your imagination with O&G’s design inspiration
75 92
Earth Products Showcases
95
O&G’s six elegantly appointed Connecticut showrooms
Unique Sections
98
The latest in Green materials, Leisure styles, Market trends, New products, Sustainable design, and Style & technology
Celebrating Connecticut Entrepreneurs
Connecticut Wine Trail—Hopkins Vineyards Winery A Flavorful Destinaton—Stony Creek Brewery
52
O&G’s Fabrication and Distribution Center Technology and expertise
16
86
72
Recent triumphs in masonry
40
78 82
Connecting pedestrians downtown
101
62 70
Creating Outdoor Spaces With style in mind A Walk in the Park 52
58
A successful collaborative design approach
34
24
Photography credit front & back covers: Charles Hilton Architects
104
Eric Rains, ASLA, Principal of Eric Rains Landscape Architecture, LLC, is an accomplished landscape architect who has extensive experience in local, state and federal regulatory permitting processes.
MAKE A STATEMENT
Natural Stone is our Passion. champlainstone.com 100% NATURAL BUILDING & LANDSCAPING STONE | THIN VENEER | CUSTOM FABRICATED DIMENSIONAL PRODUCTS
Left: South Bay Quartzite® wall stone, boulders, and slab material combine to form a distinctive outdoor fireplace atop a “beach” of irregular flagging.
Below: A wide variety of our 1763 Granite® building and landscaping stone products were artfully worked and shaped to create this stunning one-of-a-kind fireplace.
When it comes to small projects... O&G’s Special Projects Group is ready to tackle your small, special or unique construction project. If you have a building construction need, we’re here to help.
EDUCATION
HEALTHCARE
INDUSTRIAL / MANUFACTURING
...think big. Think O&G. visit us online at ogind.com
Cultured Stone
®
The name that built an industry™
Sculpt the modern landscape. With an eye on strong, contemporary designs that elevate trends and create demand, the Contemporary Collection from Cultured Stone® by Boral® serves as the zenith of the modern landscape. And with new additions, including Pro-Fit® Modera™ Ledgestone and Hewn Stone™, this latest extension allows you to create new, inventive designs that exceed your past limits. Keep pushing the boundaries of contemporary architecture and design with the entire Contemporary Collection, only from Cultured Stone® by Boral®.
PRO-FIT® MODERA™ LEDGESTONE
Carbon
PRO-FIT® MODERA™ LEDGESTONE
Intaglio
PRO-FIT® MODERA™ LEDGESTONE
HEWN STONE™
by Boral
Vellum
Foundation
HEWN STONE™
Span
HEWN STONE™
Talus
BRICK STONE SIDING TRIM ROOFING
1.800.255.1727 www.culturedstone.com
®
SUSTAINABILITY & NATURAL STONE Mother Nature’s Original Green Building Material With the popularity of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Program and the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) National Green Building Standard for residential building continuing to grow, “green” building is fast becoming standard practice within the design and construction industry.
Photo courtesy Champlain Stone Ltd.
{
A sustainable or green building is the outcome of a design process which focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use — energy, water, and materials — while reducing a building’s impact on human health and the environment throughout its life cycle through better site selection, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and eventual disposal or removal. There is perhaps no greener building material than natural stone — here’s why. An Enduring Life Cycle: Natural stone withstands the passage of time, the elements, and even transcends popular fads. Quite sim ply, no other building material can match its beauty, strength and durability. This has been proven through the ages from the Egyp tian pyramids to the Parthenon in Greece. The enduring presence of these ancient structures is testament to the strength and durability of natural stone as a building material. Minimal Processing: Natural stone is a low embodied energy product that is neither bonded together by petroleum based resins nor created in a factory. It is extracted, fabricated, and installed in its natural state and does not emit VOC’s. Local Availability: Natural stone exists as a readily available LOCAL resource. A major tenet within the green building rating systems is that of supporting local products and businesses. Regionally man ufactured and extracted materials reduce environmental impacts by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases during transportation, while supporting local economies. There are natural stone quarry sites within 500 miles of nearly any building site in the United States and Canada.
www.RoyalPerla.com RoyalPerla@gmail.com
Industry Regulation: The US natural stone industry is monitored closely by MSHA, OSHA, the United States EPA, and individual state environmental agencies proximate to each quarry. These layers of oversight help to ensure that the economic goals of the industry are balanced ethically with environmental impacts and worker safety. Detailed site reclamation plans, ongoing employee training, and regular company inspections are integral to quarry operations across the country. This ethical component cannot be understated in a very competitive global economy. Recycling: Natural stone can be reused or repurposed - even waste from deconstruction. Scrap stone from the quarry and fabrication site maintenance to improve drainage or road safety, or converted to aggregate through crushing. Many companies are also on the cutting edge of new and exciting closed loop water recycling sys tems that dramatically lower water consumption. Low Maintenance: Once installed, natural stone requires little, if any, maintenance and when necessary, may be cleaned with pH neutral cleaners.
Green attributes aside, natural stone is unique among building materials in that every stone is one of a kind, ensuring a singular, distinctive appearance and near limitless design potential. Brushed
Rigato
Hammered
Polished
Sanded
Chiseled
}
Illuminatin g by Deborah Martin, ASID Associate
Great Design
Proper lighting is a must rather than an afterthought.
L
ight is evocative. In our living spaces light can energize us, or it can shift us into a peaceful and relaxed place. It can mute or intensify colors, and draw our eye to the objects and details we love in our
home. It has been shown to boost our mood and give us a sense of well-being. Lighting fixtures and the stunning effects they can create are a fusion of quality, tactility, and creativity that can feel seriously luxurious. For any new construction or renovation project, especially when one envisions the atmosphere of finished spaces, proper lighting design is a must rather than an afterthought, as central to the success of a project as any other consideration. A sensible investment in well-conceived, flexible lighting schemes pays dividends in the long-term enjoyment of living spaces. Lighting in Layers Design and lighting professionals break down lighting into four simple types with common-sense names: ambient, task, accent and decorative. Most agree that a home’s most important rooms should have three forms of lighting to cover these bases, with a “star player” like a magnificent chandelier, complemented by table and floor lamps, sconces and recessed lighting in supportive roles. A layered electrical plan results from the sum of these parts. Gone are the days when just one large fixture would carry lighting in a space. 18
Photography credit: Phillip Ennis
17
Combining different types of fixtures in a room allows that space to have its own ambiance; different rooms, different schemes, different
A home’s most important rooms should have a star player, like a magnificent chandelier.
feels. The old goal of matching lighting has all but disappeared. Similarities in shape, finish or color are enough to make a connection between different decorative lighting fixtures in creatively unique ways. Sconces deservedly remain near the top of the home décor lighting list for several reasons. They free up table space and go the extra mile in small environments like city apartments. Perfect for foyers, powder rooms, and dining rooms, they provide eye-level lighting. When installed with a dimmer, sconces enable countless ambient lighting opportunities. They are the workhorse darlings in residential, hospitality and commercial settings.
Photography credit: Phillip Ennis
Beautiful Unlit, Too Both
design
professionals
and
savvy
consumers recognize that statement lighting – glittering table lamps or a bold ceiling fixture, for example – should be a key component in any design scheme. Decorative fixtures should be chosen for how good they look when not illuminated as well as when they are. Sunburst and geometric wire forms are emerging as styles which introduce an architectural quality that is absent from many conventional
decorative
lighting
fixtures.
Lighting with multiple pendants suspended from a single canopy at different heights continues to be very popular and affords a less cluttered appearance on the ceiling. Architectural lighting designed to illuminate surfaces, art, and textiles have been advanced most recently by LED technology. LED lighting hidden in a soffit, for instance, can be used in conjunction with decorative ceiling and wall treatments to add flair to otherwise featureless spaces. It can be a greener, more cost-effective way to wash 18
Photography credit: Tim Williams
LED soffit lighting illuminates this gorgeous glass bead ceiling above while crystal globes are suspended from a single canopy. Photography credit: Phillip Ennis
Photography credit: Phillip Ennis
Photography credit: Phillip Ennis
design elements with dramatic lighting in a way that decorative fixtures cannot. Lighting stands apart from other design elements in this: it has evolved the furthest and fastest technologically, so much
lighting makes the space design tips
Decorative lighting fixtures should be chosen for their appearance both on and off.
us. But fear not: with the assistance of lighting professionals
Place sconces at 66-72” A.F.F. with 9’ ceiling rooms and at 60-66” in 8’ ceiling rooms.
on the technical end, all we need to do is focus on timeless
In single story entryways and foyers, the bottom of
so that the sea of lighting choices might intimidate some of
design principles as they relate to scale and light, color, and the balance of light in the space. Pros can lead us to the neatest ways to control light to make it functional and convenient. (By the way, don’t dismiss the trusty, simple dimmer switch – it remains a mighty tool that gives us instant and adjustable control over the mood of a room.) Great lighting is a powerhouse design source. It’s a tool that you can wield to transform a room from mundane to
the fixture should be about 7’ above finished floor. A light fixture should be hung 32-34” above a table. With ceilings higher than 8’ add about 3” to the hanging height per foot. Example: With 10’ ceilings, hang the fixture 36-40” above the table. Proportion the fixture to the dimensions of the dining table. Determine the diameter of the table and subtract 12” to get the desired diameter of the lighting above.
Statement lighting, from glittering table lamps to bold ceiling fixtures, should be a key component in any design scheme.
memorable!
20
Deborah Martin Designs | Tel. 631-335-4226 | www.deborahmartindesigns.com Photography credit: Phillip Ennis
When you combine your own personal style with the beauty of Mirage® Porcelain Pavers, imported exclusively for Belgard®, the world outside your backdoor takes on an amazing new perspective. Start creating your kind of beautiful – order your FREE Idea Book today at Belgard.com
B
efore the designer labels, luxury cars, and hedge fund offices, the posh suburb of Greenwich, Connecticut had a noticeably different character.
For its first two centuries, Greenwich was a primarily agrarian community composed of a network of modest New England farms and maritime ports interspersed with small village
and the fine arts. Many of these he shares with his wife, a professional chef who trained at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California. Envisioning a small working farm with a focus on organic produce, farm-to-table foods, and ample space for guests, the couple acquired a multi-acre property abutting their 1940s Georgian estate when it hit the market.
resort hotels and mansions slowly began to fill in along the
Having previously worked with the award winning team of
for wealthy New Yorkers. However, in the late 19th century, the arrival of regular commuter rail service to New York City guaranteed Greenwich’s shift from retreat destination to modish suburb. Simultaneously, changes in technology and economy were causing small family farms throughout New England to cease operation in droves. This perfect storm spelled an end to Greenwich’s agricultural economy and the dawn of the back-country estates, horse farms, and country
Charles Hilton Architects, interior designer Isabelle Vanneck, landscape architect Charles J. Stick and master builder Bob Levine on a handful of successful renovation and addition projects, they decided to engage the firms once again in the development of the new property, which included a few small, early 20th century structures left in poor repair after years of neglect. Frustrated with the “tear-down” culture in Greenwich,
clubs for which Greenwich and has become known.
the owners chose to save and remodel two of the existing
Lake Avenue is a historic North-South artery in Greenwich
and significantly enhance their character.
that has embraced the development trend. Yet one growing estate abutting the popular thoroughfare serves as a reminder of Greenwich’s simpler past.
structures, relying upon the expertise of the team to salvage
A one-room studio and small service cottage sat close to the street. The back wall of the cottage integrated with the stone wall that runs along the road. Both structures suffered
Great Estate
24
early age to pursue his passions: gardening, cooking, travel
centers, vestiges of which remain today. After the Civil War, coastline as the town developed a reputation as a rural retreat
the making of a modern day
The owner, a self-made businessman, sold his company at an
by Cameron Henry, AIA
The Limonaia sits on a stone terrace surrounded by a grassy meadow.
from rot and insect damage. The cottage was carved into a warren of small, loosely organized rooms, and the mechanical systems were antiquated. Yet, despite all this, the charming structures’ French country forms and accents would inspire not only their renovation but the further development of the site. Research of the French farmhouse esthetic led Hilton to examples of both classical and rural-styled French country homes. Though visually different, the two were often united by a shared palette of locally sourced, durable
View of the shingle cottage before renovations.
masonry materials and regional construction techniques that most commonly including stone, brick, and stucco. A trip to Versailles lent inspiration. Tucked in a far corner of the famous estate is “le Hameau de la Reine” (The Queen’s Hamlet), a small village and farm constructed for Marie Antoinette. Built as a fanciful interpretation of the vernacular Norman style, the hamlet’s working farm buildings provided a perfect study in the same French country architecture referenced in the old buildings on Lake Avenue in Greenwich. It was clear: to work within the Norman vernacular, the new garden property would require a natural palette of stone and brick.
View of the Petit Hamlet at Versailles, which inspired the character and details of the project.
The transformation of the new property into a working
View from the formal vegetable garden towards the renovated cottage. On the far right is the stone site wall that becomes part of the street façade.
farm began by renovating the 80-year-old cottage and studio. The cottage’s convoluted plan was transformed for agricultural use and itsFrench country aesthetic was enhanced. On the ground floor new stone walls were added, carefully matched to the existing wall segments by mason Mauro Fidaleo. Rather than use French limestone, a variety of native Connecticut granite was selected to provide extra durability and to more closely match the existing walls. Atop the stone walls, the upper story was finished with hand-applied stucco and half-timbering,
View from the cobblestone drive court towards the renovated cottage
capped by a Vermont slate roof. A new greenhouse addition, imported from Europe, separates the formal vegetable garden from the adjacent cobblestone courtyard and allows for nearly year-round cultivation. The interior renovations followed the same continental aesthetic, with rough-textured French plaster walls, antiqued-oak board and beam ceiling and New York flagstone floors throughout the first floor.
26
Chuck Hilton with Bob Capoferri of Marble Crafters on their visit to the limestone quarry in France.
Sunlight grazes the flagstone floor and stucco walls of the Limonaia.
Potting room interior at the Limonaia with its antique carved stone sink.
The adjacent studio was repurposed as a site office for the
and-one-half story stone tower anchors the corner of the
property owner. Its wood shingle cladding was replaced
east façade. The tower offers an impressive approach from
by a new stone façade to match the adjacent cottage, and
the short cobblestone drive. Its severity is softened slightly
new custom French casement windows and a graduated
by the addition of French doors, each set with an antique iron
Vermont slate roof were added to further enhance the French
and bronze balcony and a cat and mouse weathervane finial
aesthetic. Although most interior finishes in the studio were in
at roof peak.
poor condition and required replacing, the twenty-inch-wide aged wood floors were salvaged, preserved, and reinstalled
Inside, the home embraces its agricultural setting, yet remains
to bolster the building’s antique feel.
a comfortable retreat for the owners and their guests. Tiled
... a comfortable retreat for the owners and their guests alike— the rooms and passageways on the ground floor lend a distinct old-world feel to the new construction.
to resemble walls of solid ashlar stone and paved with custom Perched on a knoll not far from the vegetable garden
cut French Camargue limestone, the rooms and passageways
stands the second phase of the Lake Avenue property’s
on the ground floor lend a distinct old-world feel to the new
development. Its main structure, a new 5,600 square foot
construction. To ensure the exact cuts and finishes of these
French Normandy-inspired residence, is characterized by its
stones, architect Charles Hilton traveled to France to meet
half-timbered façades with herringbone patterned, hand-
with the masons as each block was being quarried, cut and
made Roman brick nogging, each of which was drawn by
dressed. Limestone stairs lead from the ground floor to the
the architect to ensure their exact placement in the field.
basement of the stone tower, where root and wine cellars
Although the new home is more vernacular in its massing
provide ample, climate-controlled storage space for produce
and fachwerk construction, its entry facade pays homage
and wine. The limestone paving is continued into the generous
to French Classicism. The formal entrance is framed by a
timber-framed wine cellar, forming a border infilled with the
pedimented Doric, stone door surround supplied by O&G
same thin brick found on the exterior facades. With a capacity
Industries. Carved from a durable granite that resembles
of 2,500 bottles, in standard and larger sizes, the cellar also
limestone, the portal looks authentically French yet can
offers a commodious space for a tasting area to one side.
better withstand the harsh Connecticut climate. Around the corner, the western façade of the home is aligned axially with the formal garden terrace. A tall central bay of windows, inspired by 19th century architect Edwin Lutyen’s Deanery, overlooks the terrace at the stone reflecting pool
Ascending to the main floor, one enters the two-story Great Room, which stands in stark contrast to the single height vaults of the ground floor. The expansive double-height space is defined by a reclaimed, hand-hewn heavy timber frame by Southend Reclaimed and 30-foot wood beam ceiling. A full-sized professional kitchen to one side offers easy access to the Great Room for entertaining and cooking demonstrations. Proportioned to the room, a grand, hand-carved walk-in Camargue limestone fireplace commands the east wall, and sits directly opposite the two story bay with its unobstructed garden views. Tucked in a corner of the garden beyond, another outbuilding enhances the beauty and functionality. This tripartite, singlestory stone structure, whose construction was overseen by JKC Carpentry, hearkens back to another French agricultural type, the orangerie, or in this case the Italian-inspired
and the large reclining Neptune fountain that gazes across it. The two-story bay of windows serves as a strong visual connection between the home’s Great Room and the formal gardens beyond. On the opposite side of the house, a three28
limonaia. Used to shelter the farm’s citrus trees during the harsh Connecticut winters, this limonaia serves as both garden retreat and functional service building. Constructed of rusticated Connecticut granite the small pavilion references The great room features a carved French Camargue fireplace surround.
both the stone walls of the cottage and farmhouse and the exposed stone ledge nearby. Engaged Doric columns made of Indiana Buff limestone frame the center entry and support decorative lead urns sprouting bronze foliage by Jozef Custom Ironworks. A working farm building, the limonaia’s interior is finished with durable materials including flagstone floors, timber ceilings, and stucco walls. The main space of the building is delineated by broad stucco arches which rest on carved stone impost blocks. To one side, a potting room serves as a cozy garden workshop tucked toward the back of the property. Its focal point, a hand-carved antique English limestone sink, sits on axis with the long narrow structure. Today this Lake Avenue farm, dubbed Sleepy Cat Farm by its owners, continues Greenwich’s agricultural history into the 21st century. Its ample acreage is filled with a large formal vegetable garden, orchards, beehives, and picturesque pleasure gardens. The site is completed by its scattered French country buildings, which in turn are united by a palette of natural, local materials just like their counterparts in France. Those French country houses stand testament to the fact that buildings made of solid, durable stone will remain for generations, their timeless forms imparting the character of France and the countryside to the buildings they inspire.
Charles Hilton Architects is a Greenwich, CT based design firm specializing in fine quality custom residential architecture, sustainable design and waterfront projects. The firm has been honored with over a dozen design awards for its work at Sleepy Cat Farm including the prestigious 2011 Palladio Restoration and Renovation Award, HOBI – 2013 Project of the Year, American Brick Institute – 2013 Single Family Residential Best in Class, an IDA, and several AIA awards. Charles Hilton is a 2016 inductee to the New England Design Hall of Fame. Charles Hilton Architects | Tel. 203-489-3800 | www.hiltonarchitects.com
Details of the carved French Camargue fireplace surround in the great room can be seen at right.
French Camargue limestone continues as a border in the wine cellar around a herringbone pattern of the same tile used on the exterior facade. Basement walls are lined with a stone veneer and details to give the appearance of solid stone blocks.
Back cover: The French Normandy main house sits perched on a hill overlooking the farm and is approached from a cobblestone driveway.
OVER 120 YEARS OF BRITISH HERITAGE THE BEST OF BRITISH NATURAL STONE
Marshalls LP America Inc, 40 Stark St, Manchester NH, 03101 Telephone: 1-603-836-5838 E-mail: contact@marshalls.com
by Lisa Davenport
It is a great feeling when we can take a moment and just unplug from the craziness of everyday life. On those rare occasions where we allow ourselves to simply observe and drink in our surroundings, the team at Lisa Davenport Designs scrutinizes textures, analyzes colors and looks for common denominators. Since 2013, fans of Lisa Davenport Designs have enjoyed our color boards filled with all our discoveries. They make up our signature Cashmere & Blue Jeans™ look, a unique style that seamlessly marries unlike elements. It’s a style that is polished, authentic, rustic, refined yet comfortable, classic and even organic. So when the editor of Stylish Spaces with Masonry, who has been following our boards and wanted to introduce her readers to them, approached us for this article we were thrilled. We decided to select a few of O&G’s marvelous earthbased materials and make unique connections through the Cashmere & Blue Jeans approach. We looked at nature, and it seemed fitting that taking a seasonal approach would match decorative natural materials to the colors and textures of the seasons. Designing our boards around the four seasons, calling forth the colors so connected to the New England landscape and matching them to the gorgeous earth-based materials found at O&G’s Earth
W
Products Showcases, proved a natural fit. Enjoy!
Winter
New Englanders, for the most part, welcome the arrival of winter and that first snow, the way it creates a serene and silent blanket that sparkles, casting colors from steel
grey to purple, blue to pink. It doesn’t take too long for
the excitement to wear off. For some to see the season as gray, dull and, well, cold. We, on the other hand, find the beauty in all of it.
Cashmere & Blue Jeans™ is a trademark of Lisa Davenport Designs Product opposite page: RealStone Systems, Silver Alabaster stone panel
34
...calling forth the colors so connected to the New England landscape and matching them to gorgeous earth-based materials.
S Spring
It sometimes feels like it will never arrive. Yet when we spy that first vibrant crocus peeking through the snow we see the light at the end of the tunnel … and it’s not a train! The various plants that emerge as snow piles recede display welcome colors, from buttery yellow to saturated greens looking like they can’t wait to burst onto the scene. Product: RealStone Systems, Cyan Green stone panel
F
Product: Glazzio Tile, CB36 Cinnamon Blend, Crystile blend series
Fall
Autumn is the season for which New England is a riot of red, green, orange and yellow leaves, hills, and skies. As we pull out our cable knit sweaters and bake sweet apple pies, the sap drains from the tree leaves, the frost caresses the pumpkins and we say goodbye to the lazy days of summer. Isn’t it ironic that as the temperature drops the colors heat up?
Lisa Davenport Designs | Tel. 860.316.5718 | www.lisadavenportdesigns.com
S Summer
That first evening when you toss the sweater aside and sit on the beach, curling your toes into the warm sand as you watch the sunset?
Ah, summer has arrived! The late day sun warms your face, the horizon changes before your eyes. The sand’s subtle ivory and
gold tones blur into the blues and greens of the ocean, whose water mirrors the display of colors floating in the sky. Where else can you find colors working so exquisitely together? Product: Wayne Tile, Summer Boater Hopscotch
Photo credit: Neil Landino
OUR NEWLY FORMULATED POLYMERIC SANDS, NOW WITH A BOLD NEW LOOK.
Xtra Bonding • Xtra Durability • Xtra Strength • 20% MORE POLYMERS Gator Super Sand Bond & Gator Maxx Bond offers:
• • • •
Stronger but yet flexible Using purest, clearest polymers Cleaner sand gradation More water repellant
• 15 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
• Stronger and more durable polymers • Self healing • Resists freeze/thaw, extreme heat and erosion
• EXCLUSIVE UNIQUE COLORS
• 4 vibrant true colors that last • Enhance and beautify any hardscape project
FOR YOUR FREE SAMPLE, VISIT AllianceGator.com/vibrantcolors
the
hen a developer set about converting an historic factory complex into luxury apartments, they insisted on embracing its industrial past in the most creative ways – and selected Eric Rains Landscape Architecture to make playful, practical use of rescued elements in the outdoor environment the firm would design. Eric Rains and his design team have wrapped work on the Corsair Apartments, an upscale amalgam of history, thoroughly modern amenities and clever design. This urban parcel in the East Rock section of New Haven had been many things before its current reinvention: the Elm City Dye Works and Steam Laundry, factories that turned out cigars, carriage locks and rifles, and most famously during its WWII incarnation the manufacturer of big aluminum propellers for Corsair fighter planes. For its developer, these industrial echoes from the past had to be woven throughout the project. Materials and decorative elements were harvested from the site and beyond and add interest at every turn. A flatiron from the 1800s laundry is a handle to a large sliding barn door, itself made from arching, weathered boards gleaned from the old factory buildings. A gymnasium floor from an Idaho high school has been reinstalled with intentional randomness in the exercise room like cheery red, white and blue confetti. Metal-mullioned glass walls that once brightened factory floors now separate office spaces. Arching slices of steel that were roof trusses hover above a large rooftop terrace. Contemporary works of art by New Haven artists have been commissioned to enliven the exterior, entrances and common areas at Corsair. Much of the work pays homage to the industrial past of New Haven and the manufacturers and service companies in this redolent site’s history. 41
Tasked with designing all of the landscape at Cosair, Rains’ particular focus was the half-acre central courtyard, once a factory floor that rang for more than 135 years with the sounds of men, women and machinery. There is a refinement and cordiality about Eric Rains himself, a thoughtfulness in his choice of words and a ready smile that speak of his upbringing in the deep South. That same genteel essence flows through his design studio and is translated into his work. The courtyard is playful, relaxed, adaptable, diverse and inviting all at once. A bocce court lies next to a ring of rocking chairs surrounded by wispy Stewartia trees. A hammock ranch rests beside an outdoor theater, with its green lawn ideal for blankets and folding chairs. There is a perfectly round, kelly green gathering spot with Adirondack chairs tucked under trees and behind rolling mounds. A communal firepit blossoms out of an irregularly shaped native boulder. A wide, articulated glass door resembling a garage door on a grander scale raises to open the complex’s main function room to the outdoor spaces. The pool area has abundant mingling space and three cabanas for relaxing, already weathering to blend with the grey apartments that rise behind them. All in under an acre. Blending was important to the entire design. Rains speaks of the site “settling in” and his intention that it look like the buildings rose around the courtyard. Short native grasses will begin sprouting through the undulating hillocks he designed on the periphery. Native ferns will fill in to provide green in the summer and brilliant fall color. When leaves drop from the maple and oak trees they’ll be purposely left everywhere but the walkways to further the effect. And as Corsair’s buildings ooze history purposely, the landscape Rains and his firm designed partners with the same spirit. Friezes pulled from the old factory decoratively anchor the base of the outdoor movie screen. Stone stepping slabs of differing pale greys, some with ghostly traces of scuffed paint from their previous lives, are set into the soil to define entries. An abstract wooden boat floats above a secluded gathering area, suspended from wooden masts by guy wires, speaking of New Haven’s historic connection to its harbor. The team that converted Corsair from neglected and run down into relevant and energizing has a 42
remarkable chemistry. The creative business that he is in, Rains affirms, is a great deal about this kind of chemistry. There is a collaborative spirit not only among his own team of licensed practitioners, designers and support personnel, but with clients and suppliers at Corsair. One is reminded that this same cooperative spirit must be an echo of the drive that was here as they turned out fighter propellers as quickly as they could. Rains’ firm is a repeat partner with Corsair owner Post Road Residential of Fairfield and Beinfield Architecture of South Norwalk. The trio is collaborating on other mixeduse properties in the state. Their projects all seem to have what Rains calls a nice linear flow – without undue circling back to revisit decisions – “and the end result, to say nothing of the process, is so much better,” he says. In the execution of their creations Rains and his firm have partnered with O&G’s Earth Products Showcase repeatedly as an extension of their team. Because of the breadth of materials O&G presents and the technical knowledge of products and processes that O&G staff can provide, Rains and company are comfortable relying on them for their
upscale projects. They also know that the materials they specify will arrive on their sites whenever they are needed. “Our working relationship with O&G has been exemplary. Responses to our questions and needs have not only been timely but thorough. With this level of service, we’re able to respond to our clients’ needs in the same manner.” It’s another echo of the drive and skill practiced here by Corsair workers and thousands before them. It is what the owner calls a “spirit of can-do ingenuity that lives on in every detail.” C. Eric Rains, PLA, ASLA, Principal of Eric Rains Landscape Architecture, LLC, (ERLA) launched his practice after 23 years in the industry. During this time, he practiced in Fairfield County and the tri-state area, Washington, D.C., and the Baltimore metro area. Mr. Rains is an accomplished Landscape Architect who has extensive experience in local, state, and federal regulatory permitting processes. He balances this with deep ties to his community. Photography credit: Eric Rains Landscape Architecture
The difficult we do immediately. The impossible takes a week, ten days at the most. ~ Rex Beisel, Chief Engineer of Chance Vought, maker of the F4U Corsair, 1939-1952
techo-bloc.com • 1 877-832-4625
S P E C TAC U L A R L A N D S C A P E S Perfect stones for lovers of innovative and modern design. 1001 landscape ideas at 1001 L ANDSC APEIDE A S.COM
170 Mason Street Greenwich, CT
y
Tel. 203.489.3800
y
www.hiltonarchitects.com
in central park
S
ome of the world’s very best riders and their mounts compete at the Rolex® Central Park Horse Show. Preparing the venue takes its own kind of magic.
At the end of September for the past three years, a piece of Central Park has undergone a thoroughgoing transformation, and at an impressive pace. That is when Wollman Rink at the Park’s southern end, best known for wintry scenes of skaters revolving about the ice, hosts one of the most highly anticipated events on the equestrian calendar, the Rolex Central Park Horse Show. Upper echelon riders and their equine athletes from around the world are drawn to the five days of events held there. While mostly competitions with some seriously high purses – the winner of the U.S. Open Grand Prix CSI3 left $216,000 to the plus – family activities mixed with exhibitions of horses and horsemanship round out the show with something entertaining for everyone.
This past September, Frederik the Great, billed as “The World’s Most Handsome Horse,” strutted his stuff. An especially popular exhibition was the freestyle dressage of Valero and Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain. If you are unfamiliar with the sport of dressage, picture a muscled, one-ton stallion yielding elegantly in dance-like routines around the ring, choreographed to music and moving under the virtually invisible control of his rider. This duo demonstrated why they took home individual and team gold at the Rio Olympics just a month earlier. With a string of international titles to their credit they are dressage royalty. Daytime events were followed by more competition under the lights with the twinkling Manhattan skyline as a backdrop. At the Thursday evening $50,000 Puissance events, raw power was on display as horses jumped over obstacles approaching seven feet tall. Exposing the public to the sport is intentional at the show. It happens naturally on the winding path thru the park between the stalls and practice arena and the 47
ESI tailors their footing blends to the events and conditions at a venue. If the footing is too pliable, the horses cannot properly propel themselves over the jumps – something like the feeling of jumping in loose beach sand. On the other hand, footing without the proper give will cause landings that jar both horse and rider and may cause injury. The basic building block of ESI’s formulations is sand, a material which comes in many varieties that are not suited to equestrian competition. One sand is well suited, a pearly white variety that Raflowitz acquires from a particular O&G quarry. By the time he is done compounding it with additives and binders, it reaches the perfect composition and carries a muted pink tint.
His footing blends are so well designed that they can be installed one day and ridden upon the next. “No one else can provide that to venues like Central Park,” he says with confidence, tired but proud as he surveys the rink and warmup arena he and is men have just finished putting together. The next day would be the start of the third annual show, and Raflowitz and others in the know appreciate the excellence of the footing, prepared right on schedule, as if by magic.
Rolex is a registered trademark of Rolex SA. All rights reserved.
Photography credit: Bob Mandino
competition venue perhaps a quarter-mile away. Horses are walked and ridden between and are often stopped for clusters of enthralled park goers who just want to touch and marvel. It is a busy atmosphere for these four-legged ambassadors. Not nearly as glamorous as the events themselves and totally invisible to showgoers are the intense logistics that transform the ice rink into a world-class venue in just a few days’ time. Maybe the most critical technical factor in the high-stakes competition at Central Park is the footing upon which the horses work. It is the base for the competition courses. Listening to Brett Raflowitz of Equestrian Services International, the firm contracted for the third time to prepare that footing, gives one a true appreciation for what would otherwise likely go unnoticed.
In 72 hours, beginning with a bare base, the crew from ESI installs drainage and fabric layers and then puts down a specially formulated equestrian footing – 80 large dump trucks worth. It is an arena that his crew of about 20, mostly from Florida and South Carolina, work thru the night to prepare, and then take down when competitions are completed. 48
3
Sensational Spaces for Beautiful Living Complete Design Service
ASID affiliated T: 631.335.4226
Commercial & Residential New Construction and Renovation
Sensational Spaces fordeborah@deborahmartindesigns.com Beautiful Living deborah@deborahmartindesigns.com
www.deborahmartindesigns.com deborahmartindesigns.com 631.335.4226 ASID affiliated
...traditional elements, materials, sculptures and statuary were carefully recorded for their significance in helping unify the campus experience.
Symbolism as a Master Planning Tool for St. John’s University by Louis Fusco, RLA, ASLA
The term “university campus” carries with it expectations and ideals associated with places of higher learning. While in a physical sense a university is defined by its buildings and the spaces thethey inhabit, it is often the preconceived notions visitors bring with them that shape their experience. The ivy covered brick or stone buildings of traditional New England universities are the backdrop we anticipate when we arrive at a college. It was no different when the administrators of St John’s University approached our office, Louis Fusco Landscape Architects, for help with their 97-acre campus. All were in agreement that their “Great Lawn” surrounded by its Old Granite buildings was the perfect image for St John’s, and that the rest of the college grounds were in need of work. Design Framework Initially the focus of this project was to create a framework for campus-wide site improvements and direction for future projects. What began as an inventory and analysis of existing conditions evolved into a creative endeavor where the landscape was the driving force. Dividing the Queens, New York campus into six “Zones of Experience,” based on relationships between site, environment, building use and student activities, provided meaningful structure for future growth and organization. Likewise the traditional elements, materials, sculptures and statuary were carefully recorded for their significance in helping unify the campus experience. Coincidentally we were continually reminded of how much they liked their stone buildings—so much so that the stone was actually named St John’s Granite by the suppliers. Standards In an effort to institute design standards and support sustainability initiatives at the University, a new planning vocabulary was developed. Symbolism as a master planning tool established a context for structuring a meaningful organization of the campus. The relevance of symbolic elements in the landscape, as well as the landscape itself, can foster understanding, encourage community building and strengthen environmental relationships. This formed the basis for our new and original master plan for St John’s University and has led to ten years of an ongoing creative relationship. Planning Process To the 22,000 or so students from 110 countries, scores of alumni, faculty, administrators and NYC neighbors, the name St. John’s evokes different images. Located in the multiculturally diverse borough of Queens, this one time “commuter” college has taken on a new national and international profile. With the expansion of on-campus housing, the residential village, townhouses, university center and sports facilities, the campus became dominated by structures, roads and parking. While at its core the original “Great Lawn” stood, surrounded by traditional granite buildings, over the years new structures were
42
53
erected, connecting roads built, parking lots installed and every now and then a statue placed and dedicated in honor of a special alumni. It was time to make sense of this evolving fabric and improve the message the university was sending to its students and visitors. Organization Links and connections between buildings and users were made and the campus was divided into six Zones of Experience. These zones played a role in organizing the existing statuary and symbolic elements. They also created a framework for assessing appropriate areas for future site development. Conflicts between pedestrian and vehicular circulation were resolved by reassessing the entire entry-access-parking flow. Roads were eliminated, plazas constructed and opportunities for green spaces developed. Former parking lots and ignored spaces between buildings were evaluated as potential gathering spaces. Opportunities were provided for social meeting, outdoor dining, relaxation, reflection, and active play. Collaboration Initiated by our efforts, and in partnership with New York Restoration Project’s MillionTreesNYC program, hundreds of new trees were added throughout the campus and bio-filtration planting islands were incorporated into the largest parking lots. Notebly, St. John’s was granted the distinction of Tree Campus USA by The National Arbor Day Foundation in 2013. In addition, sustainability initiatives were recommended and a new college office for sustainability was developed. Managed by student volunteers, our office continues to provide pro-bono assistance to this group’s noble efforts. Proposed LED lighting reduced the university’s night lighting electrical usage to a fraction of its original. Campus composting and a student-run organic farm that supplies the University’s NYC soup kitchen have introduced many young people to a world of environmentalism and service. The design framework established with Zones of Experience enhanced the St. John’s campus through unification, beautification and on-going communication of the university’s mission. It brought forth sustainability initiatives and empowered the administration and students to experience their campus in a new light. Louis Fusco Landscape Architects received Honor Awards from both the Connecticut and New York Chapters of the American Society of Landscape Architects for their design and planning work at St John’s University. Louis Fusco Landscape Archtects | Tel. 914-764-9123 | www.louisfusco.com
54
Photography credit: Louis Fusco
YOUR ONE VISION. OUR
INFINITE CHOICES.
CREATE. Begin with your inspired vision. COLLABORATE. Trusted, experienced and on the cutting edge of paving stone technology, the Unilock team has the expertise and customer service to fully develop your creative designs. CUSTOMIZE. With Unilock you have plenty of pavers to choose from to create a unique custom look for your project. Color, finish, texture and size, our team will work closely with you from start to finish to make your designs a reality.
Beacon Hill Flagstone™ (Sierra) with Copthorne® (3 Color Blend) and Series 3000® (Black Granite) accents.
Beacon Hill Flagstone™ A very natural appearance and is ideal for almost any landscape project you can imagine. Its soft blended colors and subtle surface design gives Beacon Hill Flagstone that relaxed historic look and feel. Available in three sizes for a random appearance. Add in a border or banding to enhance your patio to complete the look and feel you were looking for.
UNILOCK.COM
For more outdoor inspiration contact us for a free Design Idea Catalog at unilock.com or 1-800-UNILOCK.
1-800-UNILOCK
Marrying Past with Present
case study
miss porter’s school
Vision transformed an historic grist mill into a modern admission center
I
By James Barrett, AIA. LEED AP BD + C
n the center of Farmington, over the Farmington River, stands the town’s historic Grist Mill. Constructed in the 17th century to serve the local farming community,
The completed project brought out all the charm of
it has had many uses through the years, most recently
and her family feel very comfortable and “at home.”
as a popular restaurant. The mill portion of the building is located on posts over the waterway that originally drove the water wheel. This affords the building occupants a fantastic view of the river. By adaptively re-using the mill as their Admissions Office, new owner Miss Porter’s School makes a strong
the original construction and created a very intimate space. The goal of the design team was to create an environment capable of making any prospective student The larger spaces, still with the original low wood ceilings, are remarkable for the magnificent views that the large windows provide of the Farmington River. The opposite bank of the river is a natural, wooded setting free of any buildings, making this truly a unique location. The windows
statement to newcomers, as this
are
operable,
granting the visitors both
building is now the new front door of their campus.
sight and sound of the
Historic Charm
Admissions Director noted
The interior of the mill still has the
helps calm anxious families
original post and beam structure and
waterfall below, which the
immediately upon arrival.
remnants of the original machinery exist on the upper level. The charm of a building this old is that nothing is level, straight or plumb compared to the tolerances we expect today. Some of the floors slope four inches within a space.
Vision to Transform Miss Porter’s acquired the mill and appointed Drummey Rosane Anderson, Inc. (DRA) to provide planning and architectural design services. The initial work included a feasibility study to explore the condition of the building and to determine the viability of the proposed renovations. Working with O&G Industries of Torrington, Connecticut, the scope of work was defined to achieve an acceptable project budget for the School before drawings and specifications were prepared for construction. Construction activities were overseen by O&G. 58
Pictured above is the main entrance, left is an
The exterior of the building required
interior view of the Farmington River below,
considerable repairs and refurbishing of
and below another view of the main entrance.
siding, roofing, windows, and doors. The project
Photography credit: Jim Fiora
also included new construction to create a main entrance with a stronger sense of arrival, all serving to better unify the building. The goal was to repurpose a building to be used by Miss Porter’s School for decades to come, continuing a presence on the Farmington River that was first established with the construction of the original Grist Mill in the late 1600s.
the two terraces with Chelmsfield Grey granite treads. Sidewalks at the top and bottom of the stairs continue the pavers found on
The site work was developed by Berkshire Design
the patio. Serendipitously, the re-designed grass area provides a
Group of Northampton, Massachusetts. The parking lot
lovely outdoor gathering area for school functions. The finished project is a building befitting one of New England’s premiere independent schools.
was already terraced but the lower terrace had to be expanded and made accessible. Views to the river were again emphasized by creating a patio made of Unilock Richcliff and Town Hall pavers, edged with a stone wall
Drummey Rosane Anderson (DRA) provides strategic planning, programming, and architectural design services for communities, institutions, and companies who are considering their options for future use, growth, and development. We listen, learn, collaborate, and create.
ENGINEERING PLANNING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE E N V I R O N M E N TA L S C I E N C E W W W. M M I N C .C O M
Residential
Commercial
Campus
www.LouisFusco.com New York
AVA L O N B AY N O R WA L K
C H O AT E R O S E M A R Y H A L L
SHANAHAN FIELD
THE MERIDEN GREEN
Connecticut
By Daniel Granniss, ASLA, PLA, LEED AP
.
chieving the highest level of excellence requires an integrated planning, design and construction process. This process extends beyond the walls of a design practice to include collaboration with the community, stakeholders, consultants, construction managers, and contractors. It’s beneficial for all players involved in a project to collaborate to ensure a successful outcome. By achieving successful collaboration amongst all stakeholders, a design team can maximize aesthetic and technical excellence throughout all facets of a project. Excellence at All Scales A firm can differentiate itself by providing a high level of design at every lpoint in a project— from large-scale planning to find the highest and best use of a property, to the implementation of the smallest project details. Successful design is thinking about excellence at every scale. For instance, if a mason has an idea to advance the performance or the aesthetic of stone work, or if a supplier has a better product to consider that may impact the outcome, those ideas should be discussed and expanded upon. By focusing attention on the ideas of all the stakeholders necessary for providing a successful end result, a design team is best able to understand all the variables that arise in the decision-making process so they can best assist clients in making educated decisions. The design of Sacred Heart University’s new Center for Health Education, which is set to complete in April of 2017, is the result of a highly collaborative design and construction process. The project includes an elliptical plaza embraced by the curved form of the building façade to create a strong, and integrated site and building design. Stone veneer retaining walls hold the plaza up above a lower plaza with a waterfall connecting between the two spaces. The design creates a sense of arrival and a sense of place which ultimately builds a sense of community. Having been successful with the Center for Health Education for Sacred Heart, The S/L/A/M Collaborative then assisted the University with its master plan for a 15-acre parcel purchased in the middle of campus and strategically configured it to become the new highpoint and center of gravity for the campus. Phase one of the master plan includes a new amphitheater that will serve as a visual and physical link for a new quad. Subsequent phases will populate the quad with apartment-style residential buildings. As these projects moved into construction, the collaborative process moved out into the field, working with masons and contractors to achieve the highest level of excellence. The design team entered the field working with the trades, fully recognizing that they are vital players in achieving excellence in the final product.
62
...Sacred Heart University’s new Center for Health Education is the result of a highly collaborative design and construction process Pictured at right is a view of the existing Sacred Heart University. New site design below. Renderings by The S/L/A/M Collaborative.
Enhancing the Community Designers need to think not only about what they can change with the design of a space, but also how it impacts the space that surrounds it and the community that passes through it. They should think not only about how a place looks, but how people move through, gather in it, and experience the space overall. When landscape architects design, they think about the fabric and structures of space and create a sense of place and community. The Emory University School of Medicine was designed by SLAM to transform an eyesore on the campus into the southern terminus of the Life Science academic precinct. The final design resulted in removing vehicular circulation and replacing it with plazas, a fountain, and an elliptical courtyard embraced by the School of Medicine. Subsequently, SLAM designed a new School of Public Health which became the northern terminus to the Life Science academic precinct and again, removed vehicular circulation and replaced it with campus open space and plazas. By transforming these two ends of the precinct, it not only impacted the areas that were physically changed but also significantly impacted the character of the entire precinct, which then became known as the Life Sciences Corridor. Improving the two ends of the precinct as pedestrian open space it dramatically changed the character and experience of everything in between. The Life Science Corridor now has a sense of arrival, a sense of place, and a sense of community for all related Life Science academics.
Pictures of Emory University. Photography credit: The S/L/A/M Collaborative
54
The final design resulted in removing vehicular circulation and replacing it with plazas, a fountain, and an elliptical courtyard embraced by the School of Medicine.
Designing for Decades Versus Years The needs of communities will evolve over time, but great spaces echo through the ages, evidenced by ancient places throughout the world we still visit to learn from our past. Communities will always need places to gather or to seek solitude. They will always need places off the beaten path to connect with nature and will need more urban environments to live, work, learn, and play. When we locate buildings, we think not only about the building, but the space that it creates and how it impacts a campus or a community into the distant future. When we select plantings, we think about how it will benefit the environment, the community, and the overall aesthetic. When we design structures we pay attention down to the smallest detail and think of how to build it to last and serve a community. Decades ago, the Hopkins School in New Haven, Connecticut, recognized the need to implement a new master plan to foster a reinvigorated educational mission and allow for both proposed facilities and future flexibility for the next series of decades. The
Top Photo is the Danbury Hospital Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Pavilion, photography credit: John Giammatteo. Inset picture, photography credit: Paul Buck Photography.
purpose of the master plan was trifold: to identify appropriate sites for new buildings and campus spaces that create purposeful spatial relationships and
Co-Creation and Collaboration Once collaboration is achieved amongst all stakeholders of the project, the result is a truly integrated and successful facility with aesthetic and physical connections throughout. Danbury Hospital’s concept for its new Pavilion was to generate urban design, architecture, and advanced healthcare planning around a central healing garden or “oasis” for patients. The idea of an oasis was introduced as a design concept to help define the unique character of the new project and organize the new main entry elements. A healing garden and large stone fountain is the centerpiece of a distinctive landscaped forecourt about which the new main entry drop-off canopy, lobby, handicapped parking, and main garage access are arranged.
linkages between new and existing; create outdoor spaces with opportunities for social interaction on various scales; and establish a sense of campus. Over the last two decades, the master plan has been fully implemented including two signature campus spaces. The first space is affectionately known as the “Glade,”which is a sloping landscape with full-size dawn redwoods, granite stairs, pedestrian nodes, and grassy areas for informal gathering. The second space is the “Quad” with shade and flowering trees, stone seating walls, and circular benches. Both spaces provide areas for large and small group gathering to support a vibrant community. Implementation of the master plan also included a science building, dining, Thompson Hall, library renovations, squash courts, and athletic fields. The master plan continues to be updated periodically to keep it in harmony with the mission and future of the institution. 66
Top photo: Hopkins School Thompson Hall; photography credit: Robert Benson Photography. Bottom photo Hopkins School Athletics Field; photography credit:The S/L/A/M Collaborative. The S/L/A/M Collaborative | Tel. 860-657-8077 | www.slamcoll.com
This oasis is now the new first impression for visitors, establishing a welcoming tone when they enter the campus. Approaching hospital patrons are greeted by the sound of falling water spilling over cascading falls created from large bluestone slabs. Upon arrival at the main entrance, visitors can look back across the circular entrance forecourt to a
circular pool where a fountain gushes water to the delight of those gathered in its perimeter seating areas. The project’s sustainable features reinforce the sense of a healing environment, utilizing reclaimed water throughout the landscape. With its garden setting and water feature, the project promotes a relaxed and healthier atmosphere for thinking, feeling, and healing. The project delivered on the collaborative agreement that visitors to the hospital would not enter a space that was merely functional and perhaps cold but greeted in a warm, welcoming, and soothing environment. Successful project design is intrinsically connected to the ability to leverage the skill sets of many individuals in harmony with a clear mission to maximize an exceptional outcome. By giving attention everywhere, from the broadbrush strokes of locating buildings and outdoor spaces in the landscape down to the finite detailing of masonry, designers and builders can deliver projects that will stand the test of time and enhance the communities they serve.
67
The ageless allure of stucco…
…made better for today’s technology The allure of stucco is timeless; construction technology keeps evolving, and Formulated Solutions LLC remains ahead of the curve. From the first flexible Portland cement finishing system designed to eliminate moisture entrapment issues in EIFS and the first zero-VOC acrylic stucco finish, to our new brush-, roller- and spray-applied exterior masonry coatings, one New York City-based company is committed to innovation, manufacturing excellence, and genuine customer service with on-site support. New York Stucco™ Wall Systems TESS® Thinset Exterior Surfacing System Bestcoat™ Textured Masonry Coatings
Formulated Solutions LLC formulatedsolutions.net 1 718 267 6380
New York Stucco and Bestcoat are trademarks and TESS is a registered trademark of Formulated Solutions LLC
by Mike Plaster
Sunlight is an abundant resource across the planet. Factored into building design, ‘daylighting’ not only boosts aesthetics but brings health, productivity, sustainability, and cost benefits to its users. Shuttling to and from work in near-darkness during the colder months of the year. It’s a familiar and frustrating feeling for many. It’s equally frustrating when you can’t break away for a quick walk in the summer sun. All year round, that vital dose of sun-inspired, moodboosting serotonin seems just out of reach – unless we’re lucky enough to work where the light can get in unobstructed. Without a good dose of daylight in our lives helping regulate our circadian rhythms, the dark-filled days can be detrimental to our health and well-being.
More than Just “Sunshine” Buildings that put natural daylight to work with well-executed daylighting design have been shown to provide a range of important enhancements: improved occupant wellbeing, increased organizational productivity, energy savings on lighting and aesthetics that inspire. MIT building scientist Christoph Reinhart believes that light plays a part in “shaping architecture”and should influence every step of the design process – from the optimum design of a lobby for letting light in, to which direction the building should face to draw in the right (not necessarily the most) amount of light. Placing daylighting among a building’s primary objectives is at the moment a near-unprecedented move, but with Reinhart’s goals in clear view, the advantages are obvious. It is a daylit building’s uncommon aesthetics and the enhanced emotional wellbeing of its users that combine to boost organizational productivity, says Reinhart. But daylighting’s energy savings should also interest any company that flexes its sustainability muscle for business benefits. With the potential for energy-efficient siting of a building comes the potential for greatly cutting energy costs. With properly oriented solar panels that take full advantage of the available light, for example, you could see your energy needs met – or even surpassed. The choice of smart lighting over conventional can also contribute to a saving in energy consumption. The Solatube™ passive tubular daylighting system, for instance, fine-tunes its output to give the medically recommended lux measurement at desk level for good visibility and trims the need for electric lighting.
The Beauty of Natural Lighting In commercial design there is an appetite for angled windows. Sloping glass frontage makes a striking addition with the potential for drawing daylight into large interior spaces. Another design element, clerestory windows which bring in more light from their position higher than the typical window placement, are an attractive solution for solving one of the movement’s biggest misconceptions – that daylighting necessitates “sunlighting.” If you’re lucky enough to work somewhere flooded with abundant direct sunlight, you’ll still find any excess glare a distraction and maybe even a cause of eye strain. Daylit rooms should be designed such that full-on sunlight is kept in check while the right amount of overall natural light is let into the space. There’s traction in Reinhart’s assertions that exterior and interior features of a building can pull their own considerable heft in achieving the health/productivity/sustainability/cost savings of daylighting. It’s up to designers and their clients to decide which daylighting elements carry the most significant gains for them. 70
Solatube is a trademark of Solatube Daylighting Systems.
Photography credit: Marshalls, Plc
This article is adapted from Mike Plaster’s “Daylighting – Why Natural is Best” blog post at Marshalls.co.uk. For more information on designing with natural light pick up a copy of Christoph Reinhart’s Daylighting Handbook I: Fundamentals; Design with the Sun.
Ref lections C
...faced with the challenges of a post-Hurricane Sandy regulatory environment, Wesley Stout Associates rose to the occasion.
ON WORK
elebrating recent triumphs in masonry, O&G recognizes several commercial projects that demonstrate innovation and creativity through collaboration and capability. Deming’s Park
This park addition is dedicated to the late Lucille Micacci, beloved wife, mom, and grandmother. Mr. Micacci set out to honor the woman he cherished by creating a park for the entire community to enjoy. Located in Kensington, Connecticut, the project was designed by Didona Associates Landscape Architects; with installation by TAD Masonry. O&G worked with the landscaper and directly with the Micacci family to achieve the envisioned project. Materials included Old Moss thin and regular wall stone, custom bluestone radius caps on the stone wall in the gazebo where the statue of Lucille Micacci sits, and concrete pavers in various colors and and styles. Family and friends met at the grand opening ceremony and unveiling of the park.
Highcroft Ridge Luxury Apartments features expansive facades and outdoor spaces with flowering trees that beckons the eye inward and upward.
Connecticut State Veterans Cementry A cementry expansion, completed in 2016, honors all Connecticut veterans who have served their country. BL Companies of Meriden designed the expansion and renovation project for the State of Connecticut Veterans’ Cemetery in Middletown, Connecticut. The new columbarium area is structured from natural stone Liberty Hill full bed and thinstone veneers, with Liberty Hill caps supplied by O&G. The design of a 3,000 niche columbarium houses the urns of our fallen veterans. John Fillorammo was the mason. Not shown are the stone walls that embrace the area, which were also constructed of Liberty Hill natural wall stone.
Deming’s Park
The Shorehaven Golf Club completes a wholescale renovation to the main clubhouse, the existing pool and tennis building, and a host of new outdoor dining and social amenities.
Highcroft Ridge Luxury Apartments Highcroft Ridge is sustainably designed and filled with world-class masonry products. Situated at the edge of historic Simsbury Town Center, the entry with its expansive brownstone walls and flowering trees beckons the eye inward and upward with an inviting village feel. O&G supplied the Brownstone veneers and fabrication for exterior and interior work, along with pavers for the patios. The mason contractor was Santo Veneziano. 72
Connecticut State Veterans Cementry
Highcroft Ridge Luxury Apartments
Shorehaven Golf Club
Shorehaven Golf Club Landscape architectural firm Wesley Stout Associates (WSA) developed the master plan for the newly renovated Shorehaven Golf Club that addresses linkages, member experiences, arrival primacy, queueing, and resolving conflicts between pedestrian and vehicular circulation. Touching most edges of the campus core, WSA was charged to thoughtfully blend old and new while establishing new design standards to enhance overall club character and identity. Additional focus was put on providing multiple outdoor dining and social spaces including a central terrace, outdoor bar, and firepit feature that overlooks the golf course and Long Island Sound beyond. Shorehaven is now reborn and well positioned for a thriving future. O&G’s Masonry Division supplied natural Bluestone and Ash Granite pavers to complete the natural setting that weaves the clubhouse, pool, and tennis facilities in a glorious outdoor experience for members and their guests to enjoy. Photography credit: Wesley Stout Associates
74
up Fire your
imagination
fireplace designs by o&g industries
D esign
Inspi ration
Vanderbilt This fireplace surround has a beautiful arch and graceful lines with a commanding presence. The unique, rounded mantel is reminiscent of the nineteenth century European style. Pictured without a hearth, in Cordoba Cream limestone.
Beef Eater Named after the stately palace guards at the Tower of London, this ornate, European design will add character to any room. The fireplace surround is shown with a custom, raised mantel and flush-style hearth in Indiana limestone.
Chesapeake Influenced by the famous Southern city in Virginia, the solid style, graceful lines and rustic look will add a touch of sophistication to any room. Shown with a custom, raised hearth in Cordoba Cream limestone.
Segar A Bauhaus flair can be seen in this custom fireplace. The surround features Indiana limestone complimented by Brownstone accents applied in the shelving and upper mantel elements.
Chinli This surround adds character to daily-life spaces with its casual sophistication. Natural elements provide light and serve as the focal point of family life. The surround features a flush hearth in Cordoba Cream limestone.
Kinkaku A classic essence of traditional Asian expression. This surround is both sturdy and graceful, and serves to welcome you and your guests in any room. Shown with a flush-style hearth in Cordoba Cream limestone.
Queen’s Tuff Custom A commanding presence and stately elegance – the focal point for any room. The raised hearth punctuates the style, which is seen here in Indiana limestone.
Fairfield Customized for this magnificent space, this fireplace surround features a combination of Indiana limestone and New England fieldstone products.
Cleopatra Classic beauty, graceful lines and a stately presence make this surround an intriguing addition. This design features a custom twostep, raised hearth in Indiana limestone.
King’s Guard All eyes focus on this exquisite design. Grandeur and grace are evident in this splendid fireplace setting. The fireplace surround is shown with a raised hearth in Birmingham Buff sandstone.
Newport The classic essence of traditional a New England style. This surround is impressive and refined, serving as a tranquil, distinctive addition to any room. Shown with a raised hearth in Indiana limestone.
Monticello This rustic design adds a pastoral feel to any setting. Combine these clean, simple lines with other complementary textures for a one-of-a-kind look. The surround showcases a profiled raised hearth in Indiana limestone, and an inner tile surround of Rojo Alicante tumbled marble.
Providence This surround offers charm to daily-life spaces with its distinguished sophistication and attractive lines. The natural elements of this design will serve as the focal point in your space. The surround seen features a raised style hearth in Indiana limestone.
Essence of Grandeur Say it with flair when evoking this classically sculpted surround. This fireplace will enhance the interior of your home, adding a tasteful touch to any room. The surround is shown with a flush style hearth in Cordoba Cream limestone.
Quattrocento With a style popularized during the Renaissance, this fireplace surround adds warmth and vitality to any space. The surround is shown with a raised hearth in Cordoba Cream limestone. Personalize your new surround with the timeless look of marble or granite tile for the inner surround. Choose from an extensive material selection and color pallet.
Litchfield The great room in this home deserved a fireplace surround on a grand scale. The Litchfield features a raised mantel with panel tiles. It is featured here in Cordoba Cream limestone.
From your imagination to fabrication, a custom fireplace surround from O&G offers the finished result you have always wanted. O&G ingenuity and CAD technology allow for stonework replication from an existing drawing or a custom surround designed to your specifications. For inspiration browse our extensive selection of ready-to-fabricate surrounds or ask how you can create a custom fireplace surround for a look uniquely your own. Select from natural materials including Indiana Limestone, Cordoba Cream, Birmingham Buff, and natural Brownstone.
Natural stone hearths are fire-resistant and placed directly in front of the fireplace. We offer three standard styles to meet your design requirements. flush hearth. Sits flush to the floor. raised hearth. Raised off the floor in varying heights. custom hearth. Features a top and three sides.
X - Maximum width of the opening for the firebox XX - Overall width of the fireplace at the widest point. Y - Maximum height of the opening for the firebox YY - Overall height of the fireplace from stone to stone Z - Maximum depth of stone, usually at the mantel ZZ - Depth of the stone at the foot of the fireplace for details. Mantel cap
XX
Z
YY
Y Leg X
ZZ
77
Inspired by the classics: English Garden English Garden style is founded in timeless tradition: spontaneous and lush greenery with a whimsical and romantic twist, blurring the lines between traditional and modern approaches. by Jessica Ciccarello
The English Garden creates the ideal balance between unbridled natural beauty and sober traditionalism. Featured in the photo on the right is Techo-Bloc’s Travertina slab – a stone that mimics natural travertine with the Rocka step and wall collection for all the elements that bring height to the property. The English know a thing or two about enduring, timeless beauty. Balance the classic and the modern by creating a Rocka wall bar for your outdoor kitchen space, pictured top right. Transition from a raised patio to a walkway with Rocka steps.
A New Vibe in Your Backyard: Country Rustic Nothing says rustic like the raw texture of wood. Borealis outdoor slabs bring a modern twist to an otherwise traditional product. Although they look and feel exactly like wood, Borealis slabs have all the durability of concrete and do not require any special maintenance. No more rotting wood decks, sanding or treating; they’re incredibly resistant to freeze-thaw cycles (and other harsh climates) and look great throughout every season. Pictured below are Techo-Bloc’s Borealis slabs, outdoor kitchen done in Brandon wall, a custom pizza oven built in Brandon wall and a custom fireplace made with Brandon masonry stone.
hen it comes to designing an outdoor space, many homeowners don’t really know where to start. Techo-Bloc, a leading North American paving stone brand, has created outdoor hardscape products with decor styles in mind, taking interior design principles outside to backyard design. Whether your style is country rustic, contemporary, English garden or polished casual, here are the products and styles to get the look you are after.
Seeking Comfort: Polished Casual
Sleek sophistication: Contemporary Style
by building a seating wall
The contemporary Techo-Bloc style is a modern and
around your fire pit to
minimalist approach; think sleek lines and smooth textures.
accommodate guests. The
Geometric patterns, as
Prescott fire pit is avail-
seen with the Graphix wall right, create a sleek but visually interesting effect to build everything from raised patios and garden beds to outdoor kitchens and a matching fire pit. For pool decks, smooth
78
and
polished
Polished casual is simple elegance dressed down. A perfect balance between function, art, comfort and design. Create intimacy
able in two colors: Riviera and Rock Garden Brown. Elements like fire and water features serenity
are
two
that and
great amplify
peaceful-
ness in a garden setting. Photos feature firepit,
on the
the
right
Prescott Mini-Creta
textures such as the Blu
seating walls, Aberdeen
Grande, create a clean
slabs and Antika paver
and modern look.
border.
Photography credit: Techo-Bloc
s Turning the Ordinary into Extraordinary
QUIKRETEÂŽ offers a comprehensive line of masonry materials that can transform a backyard into an outdoor oasis. The masonry materials exceed ASTM requirements and can be customized to meet the color specifications of any project.
Although it appears natural, the design of the brook involved complex engineering and hydraulic modeling, which included the creation of pools and riffles that utilized native stones ranging from 3-inch pebbles to 4-foot-diameter boulders. The large boulders create habitat areas and aid in Harbor Brook’s ability to withstand high water velocities during storm events. Even in the dry summer months, a low-flow channel supports a local fish population. The significant open space of the park is stitched into the fabric of downtown Meriden and includes over 7,000 linear feet of universally accessible sidewalks, a new section of the Meriden Greenway, and a signature premanufactured pedestrian bridge.
By Mark Arigoni, LA
n the heart of Meriden, Connecticut, lies the Meriden Green, a 14-acre flood control/park and economic development project. The $14 million project is a key component of Meriden’s downtown revitalization. In the late 1950s, visions of creating a vibrant, bustling downtown shopping area in Meriden surfaced. Manufacturing and mill buildings were demolished in the 1960s in an urban renewal effort, a trend that could be found in many small cities throughout New England during that time period. The location of the International Silver Company, a manufacturing building left over from the industrial era, provided valuable land area for this effort. Harbor Brook, which ran through the middle, was channelized underground in two concrete culverts to provide real estate for the vision. A few years later, the vision became reality, and an indoor shopping mall and movie theater – or HUB as it came to be called – drew many people to the area. Unfortunately, what was once an ambitious dream became a financial drain. What many did not realize at the time was the impact the project would have on future downtown flooding. Though the brook was confined underground, it did not preclude flood events or protect the downtown streets, adjacent businesses, or the HUB site from them but instead exacerbated the problems. Even more unfortunate was the fact that significant flooding events occurred more frequently after the 1950s. Newer, competing regional 82
shopping areas, coupled with frequent flooding of the area, led to the abandonment and eventual demolition of the HUB buildings in 2006, which had sat empty for nearly 30 years. In the 1990s, the City of Meriden began a new effort to revitalize the downtown area and solve the flooding problem. A 1996 study completed by Milone & MacBroom, Inc. of Cheshire, Connecticut, revealed possible solutions to alleviate the flooding of not only the immediate downtown area but the entire 15-square-mile watershed of Harbor Brook. One particular location garnered the attention of the design team: the HUB. The HUB not only provided a perfect centerpiece for revitalization efforts, it was also strategically located to serve as the primary flood storage basin for the flood improvement project. Milone & MacBroom began developing plans to transform the vacant mall and parking lot into a new urban flood control park space. As the plans advanced through the design stages, coordination with the city’s Economic Development staff led to the inclusion of several future building development pads, all proposed to be located outside of a revised 100-year floodplain. In 2015, the city broke ground on its first significant downtown revitalization effort, completing construction in 2016 and renaming the HUB the Meriden Green. Over 1,700 feet of Harbor Brook once confined in underground tunnels can now be appreciated as a natural, meandering channel through the city’s new central park.
Milone & MacBroom | Tel. 203-271-1773 | www.miloneandmacbroom.com |
Photography credit: Milone and MacBroom
The 300-foot Silver City Bridge now connects pedestrians in the downtown area to the new commuter transit center. The bridge was constructed in three primary segments. It is painted a metallic silver and includes decorative LED accent lighting that accentuates the city’s rich history in silver manufacturing. The bridge is designed to maintain connections over the park even during flood events and provides a fantastic view of the green and the surrounding community. Its decorative concrete piers are placed to effectively pass floodwaters unimpeded beneath the structure and are finished with a decorative stacked stone concrete form liner and stain system. Smaller footbridges connect visitors to the brook, and a large outdoor amphitheater provides a civic destination. The amphitheater seating, along with much of the park, is designed to be submerged during flood events, and a comprehensive operations and maintenance plan provides details for care following these events. While serving as a location to stage seasonal performances and concerts, the
amphitheater also provides an exceptional gathering area for families. The Great Lawn, a fiber-reinforced topsoil area, serves public community events, a farmers market, and the circus and is also used for informal recreation. The park is drawing people to the downtown, helping to create a sense of community and stimulating the economy and other redevelopment projects. The accessibility of the green to downtown Meriden and its proximity to the new train station make it an ideal location for local businesses to thrive.
Although not apparent to the casual observer, the Meriden Green is much more than a pretty park centrally located in the heart of the city. Its main purposes are to both store and strategically convey floodwaters downstream to minimize flooding that has historically plagued the city. The grading and contouring of the land has been designed to contain and convey rising flood waters within the park, while the park structures designed to withstand full submersion during more significant storm events. The same spectacularly beautiful green that will be used to feature hundreds of community events is also capable of holding a staggering 60 acre-feet of water, containing the 100-year flood within its borders. Not bad for a walk in the park!
The complete solution for thin brick applications.
Designs that bring communities to life—one stone at a time
Masonry Veneer Installation System (MVIS™) LATICRETE has a complete solution for adhered manufactured thin brick veneers, providing a permanent, high strength installation that is freeze thaw stable and protects from water intrusion – backed by a LATICRETE 25 Year System Warranty*. ®
Snap for more information.
www.laticrete.com/mvis | 1.800.243.4788 A-8061-1016 *See Data Sheet 025.0 for complete warranty information. ©2016 LATICRETE International, Inc. All trademarks shown are the intellectual properties of their respective owners.
Design with community in mind stantec.com
by Rick Filloramo, International Masonry Institute
Site Walls Done Right
Photography credit: O&G Industries
hese walls add grace and utility to any property. Built well, they can be expected to weather life’s storms for generations. Properly designed and installed masonry site walls are things of beauty. More than that, they are make strong, long-lasting and virtually maintenance free additions to a property. Regardless of the material of choice – architectural brick, natural stone, veneer stone or concrete masonry units (think architectural designed block) among others – the wide variety of available sizes, patterns, colors and textures guarantee a wall that is the perfect complement to any aesthetic. Site walls is shorthand for the many types of masonry walls that, while functional, are not strictly structural, the way a building wall is. They accomplish a number of utilitarian purposes. They can provide privacy, security and protection. They can abate noise, define a space and control changes in site elevation. They can be used to direct traffic flow, form entryways and make enclosures that mask things like waste removal containers.
IMI
Masonry walls that enclose buildings lead a hard-knock life. Theie exteriors are exposed to severe climatic conditions such as rain, snow, heat, cold, wind, ice, freeze-thaw, hurricanes and storms. But even more so do site walls, exposed to those same environmental rigors usually on all sides, including the top of the wall. So just how do they survive for generations out in the elements? They do it through clever design that relies on hidden internal air space for ventilation and drainage, flashings, water resistive barriers, air barriers and other moisture control systems that hold nature’s harshest treatment at bay.
Photography credit: O&G Industries
It all hinges on proper design, the right materials and capable installation.
87
Building codes to the rescue In the late 1970s the industry came to grips with just how
other as temperatures change, use a bond breaker or joint reinforcement to control cracking.
harmful long-term exposure to moisture seeping behind
• All exterior masonry site walls need movement joints,
building veneers was, and how having flashing and air space
either an expansion joint in clay brick masonry, stone and
was critical. While incorporating these changes into building
calcium silicate or a control joint in CMU or concrete-based
codes became universal, code changes and advances in
products.
materials were slow to migrate to the construction of site walls.
• Variable depth stone veneers cannot employ an air space since larger stone above requires mortar or another stone
Years ago, masons built site walls much like exterior building
or to bear on. The code here requires a 1” minimum solid
walls. They would install four inches or more of brick or stone
cavity filled with mortar or grout plus a drainage mat. Where
and anchor them to a concrete backer of some description.
air space is desired, simply specify the stone width to be cut
Rarely was there an air space, drainage or flashing. They
to 3” or 3 5/8” with a maximum variation of ½” to maintain
may have felt that moisture control wasn’t
an air space.
important for site walls since there was no interior space to protect.
• Flashing for site walls will protect them
Today
and drain moisture out of the wall system.
we know that these design details
Once again there are lots of installation
need to be built into site walls to
options depending on the particular
provide superior, maintenance free
site wall construction, from systems
projects. Thankfully, Connecticut
at the base of walls to aesthetically
has adopted the 2012 International
pleasing hemmed edge metal flashing.
Building and Residential Codes and
Flashing does great things: it will assist
related family of codes with updated
in reducing or eliminating efflorescence
standards for exterior walls.
and deterioration and thereby reduce maintenance costs.
It’s in the details The success of a site wall project depends on many different elements. Here are some of the key ones.
grade, most often when grade changes or slopes would otherwise leave exposed concrete foundations. It is critical to
WHAT MAKES A GREAT SITE WALL?
“Well done!” Properly designed masonry site walls – those with air/drainage
equipment.
To look great and last for years and years with minimal care, masonry site walls should incorporate the following elements and details:
• The most critical detail for site walls is the top of the wall
• Bricks that are hard, dense, low-absorptive and have a
1. Durable, low-porosity stone, brick, CMU or
where protection from the elements happens. Once again
smooth face are best suited for site walls exposed to the
other masonry materials.
there are many good options but, in general, one to avoid:
elements. Consider using a base of hard dense stone at
2. A 1 ½” to 2” air space or a 1” air space with a
landscape or design scheme. So envision your wall, build it
brick or other small units with exposed mortar joints that will
grade, which also provides an attractive accent band.
drainage mat.
right and get ready for the kudos coming your way.
• There is an abundant selection of natural and manufactured
provide a mowing strip or drainage bed filled with landscape
masonry materials that are strong and durable. Check that
stone to allow moisture to drain away from the masonry
your materials of choice meet current ASTM standards. It’s
veneer that is below grade. It will also help prevent staining
usually beneficial to make sure they are dense and have low
and deterioration and damage from lawn maintenance
water absorption.
degrade over time and allow moisture to enter the wall and gradually cause severe deterioration. The best protection for the tops of site walls comes from dense, rugged precast concrete, cast stone or natural stone copings. • Designers often combine various masonry materials within the same wall. When mixing brick and concrte masonry units (CMUs), which expand and shrink differently from each 86
• Some designers prefer to start their masonry below
• Copings with an overhang, the most effective water
3. Strong durable flashing and flashing systems.
deterrents, will provide maximum protection for the wall
4. Weep vents at the base and top of walls.
below. They also give a little extra toilerance for irregularities in the veneers. Some designers are eliminating the stone overhang to create a clean, smooth contemporary look but
5. A means to take out mortar dropped in the cavity during installation.
be sure in these cases to ensure that the flashing is sealed to
6. Damp proofing of the back-up wall (optional
the surface below.
but recommended.) Photography credit: Richard Filloramo
space, ventilation and flashing – are destined to be around for a very long time and be virtually maintenance free. And with new flashing systems and an abundance of handsome, long-lasting materials, today’s designers are in command of so many creative ways to develop site walls that suit any
For the complete text of Mr. Filloramo’s article, including more details of construction and a Powerpoint presentation with examples, please contact Mr. Filloramo at 860-202-8444 or rfilloramo@imiweb.org Richard Filloramo is Area Director of Industry Development and Technical Services for the International Masonry Institute (IMI) New England Region’s Connecticut/Rhode Island Office. He has more than 40 years of experience in the masonry industry, and has been involved with the design, construction, or inspection of more than 5,000 projects. He is a member of the Masonry Standards.
89
O&G’s Fabrication & Distribution Center Technology and Expertise
Style and technology. That may sound like an unlikely topic for a luxury magazine. But it’s really not. When it comes to masonry, technology is actually an indispensible element of bringing style to life.
automated Infinity Profiler System, a Flow water jet fabricator and a Prussiani CNC. Operated by veteran craftsmen, these high-tech machines are capable of high-volume production — even of the most complex details, molded radius work and custom shapes. But this state-of-the-art facility was designed to be a single source for custom fabrication and product selection. So additionally, the Center cultivates a host of supplier partners from around the world an carries an extensive inventory of natural and man-made materials, from trend-setting to traditional.
Today, moving a designer’s vision for dramatic interiors and exteriors off of the design board and into actuality, and making that move efficiently and expertly, requires a mastery of state-of-the-art technology. O&G’s Fabrication and Distribution Center, located in Beacon Tucked into the sprawling Center is also special stone Falls, Connecticut, is entirely dedicated to supplying showroom. It is an oasis in the middle of the no-nonsense a steady stream of highly skilled profiling capabilities. manufacturing and distribution facility that provides The facility features the computer-driven and architectural, commercial and residential clients with an
upscale viewing experience. The displays make it easy for them to see, touch and chose from hundreds of high quality stone slabs for their project. In this newly designed space, customers can consult with O&G’s experts to draft plans and layouts, maybe while seated next to a working limestone fireplace surround, or select edging details they can see and feel in the kitchen vignettes nearby. John Baranoski heads up all fabrication at the Center. His tightknit team works together to meet the desires of clients, whether they are a homeowner, an architect or a municipality. “We have an outstanding team of professionals here. In CAD design, stone profiling and the production of countertops,” he says, “there’s nobody better at turning out high-quality, sometimes one-of-a-kind work at the volume we have going through here. I’m very proud.” Style and technology: it’s an essential partnership.
Six Showrooms elegantly appointed
o&g presents
each showroom displays elegantly appointed vignettes featuring a vast selection of materials for interior and exterior projects. o&g’s knowledgeable staff guides customers with expert consultation. this high level of service is the foundation of o&g’s earth products showcase. it is the reason new clients arrive and loyal customers return.
o&g offers six showroom locations in connecticut for your convenience. bridgeport danbury hartford middletown stamford waterbury
(203) 337-5119 (203) 730-4880 (860) 493-0393 (860) 347-8549 (203) 323-1111 (203) 574-1341
www.ogind.com/mason
49
Green Materials
Style & Technology
The face of education.
©2014 Oldcastle. All Rights Reserved. OLD14-035
-Project: William Allen High School, Allentown, PA -Product: Trenwyth, Astra Glaze
Astra Glaze® Additional colors, sizes & shapes at Trenwyth.com
For more information about our SmartBIM models and continuing education units, visit oldcastleapg.com/ceubim.html For more information on our broad range of products or for free literature call 1-855-346-2766 or visit oldcastleapg.com OLD14-035 Face of Astra Glaze Ad_9.125Wx7.5H.indd 1
The face of masonry. No matter where you are, chances are we’re somewhere close by. In fact, you’ve probably seen us many times before in the places you shop, work, play, learn and live. We manufacture the brands and products used in the interiors and exteriors of civil, commercial and residential construction projects across the nation. We’re Oldcastle Architectural. We are the face of masonry. Brands
Why not natural stone veneer? by Shea Quarton
TRENWYTH® ENDURAMAX™ ARTISAN MASONRY STONE VENEERS™ QUIK-BRIK® AMERIMIX®
WHAT’S BETTER THAN RECYCLING?
12/8/14 4:39 PM
PRE-CYCLING IS THE USE OF WASTE PRODUCTS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE ENTER THE WASTE STREAM WITH OUT EVER BEING UTILIZED. Realstone Systems™ revolutionary panel products are not only naturally beautiful and simple to install, but are also environmentally friendly by utilizing pre-cycled stone off cuts. To make Realstone panels, we use stone discards from existing quarries. By utilizing the discards,we eliminate the creation of additional waste as well as preserve natural resources. Realstone natural thin stone veneers use far less material than traditional full bed stone, further preserving natural resources. In addition, the panels’ light weight reduces the need for additional structural requirements.
realstone
SYSTEMS
TM
Natural Stone Simply Installed
panels give a seamless, blended, totally natural stone look. Manufacturers of natural stone veneer are sticklers for quality and uniformity from the start of the process to the
The slimmer, lighter cousin to full-bed stone just keeps getting better and better.
very end. Keeping the machinery in pristine shape, putting
Natural stone veneer is just that – it’s all natural, 100 percent
check and packaging the panels in a state-of-the-art facility
real stone sliced thin for use as a final finish surface. It
are all staples in producing this first-rate building product.
captures all the stunning colors and textures of full-bed (full
As the architectural and interior design communities
thickness) stone but without the longer installation times
evolve in their designs and create trends, natural stone
and labor costs.
veneer manufacturers stay abreast.
When man-made stone hit the market and became popular
Natural veneer plays second fiddle to no other natural or
as a simpler, less expensive option to real stone, the natural stone industry came together and countered with a system that not just competes with man-made products but has became a dynamic wall covering standard in its own right. Natural stone veneer comes in panels. They range from ½”
each panel through a stringent 25-point quality control
man-made facing option. With more types of stone being assembled into panelized systems every year, its future looks very solid indeed. WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE about stone veneer?
Realstone is a natural stone product. In contrast to man-made stone products, which use large amounts of natural resources and chemicals during the manufacturing process, our stone is made by nature and adhered with a ISO 9001 compliant, VOC-free adhesive.
shapes and sizes, though the standard is a 6”x24” panel that
• Use inside or out — withstands freeze/thaw cycles • Hundreds of shapes, textures, and colors • Easy-to-install panelized systems
is straight edged with a tight 2mm tolerance. When it is laid
• Nothing fake, nothing painted, all natural
Naturally beautiful, simple to install and respectful of the environment, Realstone is a product that not only looks good but that you feel good about too.
up offset or on a random running bond, these lightweight
Realstone is available at O&G stores.
to 1 ¾” thick and are assembled in a number of different
To view product selection and more information please visit O&G’s Earth Products Showcases. Photography credit: Realstone Systems
Leisure Styles
by Nancy Spaulding, ASLA
Market Trends
The Marriage of Old & New Makes A YEAR-ROUND DESTINATION
The trend for 2017 is pure tranquility and neutrality above all else. by Bernedette White
I
n the shoreline communities of Fairfield County, older homes long situated on picturesque properties are being renovated. Much more than “facelifts,” these are thoroughgoing makeovers undertaken to suit today’s tastes and amenities. Great attention is being paid to the grounds and outdoor living spaces as staid yields to vibrant and accommodations are made to active, modern outdoor lifestyles. A recent Spaulding Landscape Architects redesign of the grounds of a waterfront property is a case in point. It’s a balance carefully attained, says principal and landscape architect Nancy Spaulding. “With the beautiful location and nineteenth-century home it was important that we respect the style and materials already on the property with a renovation that looked as if it had always been there,” she says. The focal point of the project was the dramatic conversion of a portion of a large paved drive into a pool and spa with an adjoining sitting area under a pergola. Spaulding’s focus for her clients was threefold: only quality materials for the stonework and wooden pergola, site-specific plantings to create an all-seasons environment, and detailing throughout that would be refined and subtle. Stonework figured prominently in her design. She selected Cedar Lake for its variegated sandy palette that echoes the nearby beach. It also provided a functional solution for cooler pavement underfoot in hot New England summers. She chose bluestone banding for the new pool patio to relate it to an adjacent renovated patio that retained its original bluestone pavers. Thick capstones with chiseled, rock-face edges sit atop the renovated patio walls, themselves beautifully matched by the mason to the stone of the house’s foundation.
100
The detailing on these walls was repeated in the outdoor sitting area the firm designed to provide additional outdoor entertainment space: a bar area (with a more substantial countertop using the same rock-face edges, which also matches the spa coping), seating, fire pit and outdoor television under a pergola. With its subdued accent lighting, the pergola is a destination for the owners at all times of the day and any time of year.
Neutral colors hardly go out of fashion, and in 2017, one of the main trends will revolve precisely around neutral tonalities, mainly white and grey with the addition of some black. Along with this color palette, the style will feature an abundance of natural light, open spaces, windows and mirrors. Minor contrasts are also trendy, especially between white and grey or white and black. The main objective is to create the sensation of freedom, serenity and peace of mind. In terms of natural stones, classic light marbles will most likely remain somewhat popular. Still, there are many other options that are prone to rise, like limestone for instance with which, consumers can find numerous white and grey options that should be considered for projects using this style.
In addition to the sizeable hardscape design, added plant materials enhance the settledness of the project and lend it natural beauty that changes throughout the year. Larger native plantings protect the site closer to the shore. Vernacular ornamentals like hydrangeas, daylilies and grasses not only create seasonal interest but perfectly suit the beachside location. This waterfront project shows that with a respect for the history, setting and uniqueness of a property, thoughtful landscape design can create a beautiful new environment that flows with today’s lifestyles even as it honors the integrity of the original property. Photography credit: Spaulding Landscape Architects, LLC
Photography credit: Cancos Tile & Stone
New Products
Bringing the rustic charm and earthly natural beauty of real stacked stone from the countrysides of Europe to your modern Western setting. Available in easy-to-install, lightweight panel systems that have an old world look, instantly transforming any common interior or exterior into a space you will treasure.
Sensible Design
Old World Thinstone Panels
™ by Simone Armillotta EVO_2/e is a porcelain flooring system created by Mirage with outdoor applications in mind. Designed in Italy and manufactured in America, EVO_2/e’s tasteful interpretation of stone, wood and concrete, combined with its high performance in the outdoors and a versatile installability, opens new creative doors to architects, landscapers and designers.
balance between aesthetics and function. Because porcelain is equally at home indoors and out, surfaces can flow seamlessly from an indoor spa or solarium out to a pool. EVO_2/e also complies with industry standards for pool edges thanks to its slip resistance
Impressive advantages anywhere.
Gain the visual appeal of wooden floorboard decking and lose the high maintenance demanded by traditional decking materials. With a firmer feel underfoot than engineered plastic floorboards, E_Deck™ by Mirage is a simple-to-fit, handsome and durable alternative. The system comes with all components to install your deck from joists to stoneware and finishing accessories. It is fast to fit, stable and permits creative tiling layouts.
Besides the chic and natural look of EVO_2/e: • Natural and pure raw materials fill 99% of every single slab, making it eco-compatible with a guaranteed reduced impact on the environment. • EVO_2/e can be easily installed over grass, gravel, sand or directly onto footings and comes in a broad range of sizes and trim tiles. • It can carry up to 2,200 pounds per slab, withstands extreme temperatures, resists chemicals, salts, molds, and moss, requires no special treatment and is easy to clean, lay and remove.
In the garden. Build a beautiful, low-maintenance garden space thanks to porcelain’s coordinated colors, surfaces and impressive durability out in the elements. Porcelain is perfect for features like large steps, pathways, seating areas, containers and wall copings.
Pools, spas and solariums. With excellent performance and a broad range of available accessories, porcelain makes it possible to strike the perfect
Product: Old World Copper and bluestone hearth.
Photography credit: Mirage
For decks, too.
With all the versatility and style of porcelain pavers, their time has arrived to make chic statements in outdoor spaces everywhere. Mirage products are available at O&G’s Earth Products Showcases. EVO_2/e and E_Deck are trademarks of Mirage Granito Ceramico Spa.
CONNECTICUT’s
by Matt Tobin
a unique family adventure n many ways, the history of Hopkins Vineyard is the history of New England itself. The first Hopkins family member to set foot in the New World was Stephen Hopkins, who came over on the Mayflower in 1620. His 4th great-grandson, Elijah Hopkins, purchased the Hopkins Farm in 1787 upon his return from the Revolutionary War. Over the years, the Hopkins Farm has had various functions, including growing tobacco and raising sheep and horses. In 1956, at the age of 19, William L. Hopkins took over operations of the family dairy farm. By the 1970s, the dairy business in Connecticut had become a difficult way to make a living, and William needed to find a way to support his wife and three kids. William considered several options, including moving the family to Australia to continue their tradition as dairy farmers. But in 1978, an opportunity presented itself. The Connecticut State Legislation passed the Farm Winery Act allowing winemakers to make and sell wine. One year later, William and his wife, Judith, decided to take a chance on Bill’s hobby of making wine, and in 1979 they planted the first grapes, giving birth to Hopkins Vineyard. The following year, conversin of the 19th century barn into a winery began. The unique location of Hopkins Vineyard, sitting on the north shore of Lake Waramaug, makes it the only vineyard in Connecticut to be influenced by an inland lake, which creates a microclimate that allows for an extended growing season. Each year, Hopkins Vineyard produces 7,000 cases of award-winning wines from primarily estate-grown grapes from their 30-acre vineyard. Over the years, Hopkins Vineyard has received awards and honors from local and national wine contests for their red, white, and sparkling wines. In 1988, the U.S Department of Agriculture honored the Hopkins Farm as a Bicentennial Farm, having been in the same family since the birth of the U.S Constitution. In 2011, William was honored as Wine Person of the Year by the Connecticut Vineyard and Winery Association. And on July 7th, 2012, the Hopkins family received a proclamation from Governor Dannel P. Malloy who honored Elijah Hopkins for his contributions as an American patriot, family man, and farmer. In 2012, Hopkins Vineyard hosted a colonial-themed event to celebrate 225 years of family farming. In 2005, William and Judith appointed their daughter, Hilary, as president of Hopkins Vineyard, and together they continue to grow and evolve as wine producers in the State of Connecticut. Hilary sits on the CT Wine Trail board where wineries throughout Connecticut invite you to taste the adventure. Photography credit: Hopkins Vineyards Winery
\104
www.hopkinsvineyard.com
The unique location of Hopkins Vineyard, which sits on the north shore of Lake Waramaug, makes it the only vineyard in Connecticut to be influenced by an inland lake.
STONY CREEK BREWERY
Inside, you can watch the brewery’s operations through
Relaxing dockside in an orange Adirondack chair, rolling a little bocce or catching up with friends around tables as a band plays on the deck, the scene at Stony Creek doesn’t fit with the image most of us have of a brewery. And that’s exactly what owner Ed Crowley wanted.
handsome fireplace and views of the river, and below it
tall glass walls. There’s a function room upstairs with a is the taproom, a larger open space that casts a hang-out feel. There are couches, with movable, groupable tables and lots of glass opening to the river. Heron-headed bar taps (the great blue heron is Stony Creek’s icon) dispense the 16 “full flavor” craft recipes they currently offer, with names like Big Cranky Double IPA and Dock Time. The taproom has an even grander fireplace and hearth inviting you to slide into a couch and relax with a brew. The fireplace takes up half a wall and, true to Crowley’s intention to make everything local here, is faced with
A 38-year veteran of the beer business, Crowley was
Stony Creek Granite.
determined to open his own craft brewery and to have it be different – not in an urban location, not
The subtly pinkish granite, from the Stony Creek
tucked into vacant factory space, but on display
Quarry in Branford, has a storied history. Since
in Branford, his scenic shoreline hometown. It
the 1800s it has been selected for famous edifices:
had to be a picturesque destination, not just
Grand Central Station, the pedestal of the Statue
place to drink a beer.
of Liberty, the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum
“We’ve been open just about a year and a half,”
of Art. And Crowley, with award-winning
says Crowley, a man of details. “In the twelve
Branford architect Joe Sepot, thought it just
months trailing we’ve had 320,000 people come
right for his brewery.
through our doors. People spend an average of two-and-a-half hours here when they come. It’s awesome and it’s far exceeding our expectations.”
Owner and architect worked with mason Ryan Longo and Ron Demeo Construction to install their Stony Creek Granite fireplace. They chose O&G to fabricate
The vibe at the Stony Creek Brewery is definitely chill, a
the stone to the right sizes and quantities they needed.
“wear your flip flops and untuck, you’re at the shore” feel.
Because of its ability to fabricate granite to spec, O&G is
Outside party spots ring the property’s frontage on the
the state’s largest provider of Stony Creek Granite outside
river.
of the quarry.
Typical of the customer-first philosophy here, there are bicycle racks with a complementary air station and tool kits to accommodate the many who make a ride to Stony Creek part of their weekend plans.
O&G’s Mark Greco was able to help select the pieces and offer suggestions for the most practical approach to executing the fireplace designs and enhancing their look. “It’s a beautiful place,” says Greco, “and granite right from Branford was the perfect choice.” Cheers! www.stonycreekbeer.com
By latest count there are 34 craft breweries spread out across Connecticut. So what exactly makes a beer maker a craft brewery? To start with, craft breweries, also called microbreweries, produce smaller batches of beer, far smaller than the large national beers we all know. But what really sets craft beer makers apart and builds a following is their emphasis on perfecting unique and enticing recipes of a very high quality. Their creativity and flavors are a refreshing change from the mass-produced. Photography credit: Bob Mandino
Easily covers and hides
201 7 L A N D S C A P E T R E N D S
• exposed aggregate • hairline cracks • pinholes • spalling • stains with a durable stucco-like finish
The complete solution for thin brick applications.
GRAYS — Modern home exteriors are embracing the luxurious materials trend by bringing faux finishes to the outdoors. Techo-Bloc’s Travertina Raw slab is a modern take on natural travertine. Able to resist freeze and thaw climates better than the natural stone version, Travertina Raw collection by Techo-Bloc can be used to build outdoor planters, steps, decorative walls, patios, and pool decks.
Subdued, quiet and elegant, grays continue to be the muted colors of choice when it comes to creating a sense of calmness. Techo-Bloc embraces this trendy esthetic with the Blu Grande collection in shale grey, which plays on smooth, polished and galaxy textures, or with the Aberdeen slab riviera, which imitates the natural look of slate stone. A monochrome color palette evokes a minimalistic look while the mix of black and gray creates visual interest.
VISUAL MOVEMENT —
SIGNATURE ENTRANCES —
FAUX FINISHES —
WOOD FINISHES —
As the demand for wood esthetics grows, homeowners are looking for more practical alternatives to get the wood look. The Borealis stone collection by Techo-Bloc —a splinter-free, weatherresistant and maintenance-free alternative—creates remarkably versatile outdoor designs features. Mixing the wood-effect of Borealis with the stone texture of concrete slabs allows a more modern approach to rustic design.
Masonry Veneer Installation System (MVIS™) is your complete solution for adhered manufactured thin brick veneers, providing a permanent, high strength installation that is freeze thaw stable and protects from water intrusion – backed by our LATICRETE 25 Year System Warranty*. ®
Bestcoat
™
Textured Masonry Coatings look like stucco, apply like paint and cost less than either…
www.laticrete.com/mvis 1.800.243.4788 Snap for more information.
A-8148-0217 *See Data Sheet 025.0 for complete warranty information. ©2017 LATICRETE International, Inc. All trademarks shown are the intellectual properties of their respective owners.
Beautify and protect new and weathered surfaces in 20 standard colors plus store tints. Apply by brush, roller or spray. Available in smooth, fine and coarse textures, in standard, elastomeric and waterproof versions for both exterior and interior surfaces. Formulated Solutions LLC formulatedsolutions.net | 1 718 267 6380 Bestcoat is a trademark of Formulated Solution LLC.
Geometric designs are in for bolder statements in the backyard. The Graphix wall by Techo-Bloc, an eye-catching soil-retaining wall combines chiseled and smooth faces to create a 3D visual effect. Build outdoor planters, decorative walls, bars, and outdoor kitchens with this new take on outdoor stone—perfect if you’re a design lover or seeking something modern and out of the box.
Asphalt and poured concrete are being left aside for a personalized and custom-style pavement that makes a home look more polished and well-maintained. Designed to withstand vehicle traffic, Techo-Bloc’s salt-resistant and interlocking pavers come in different shapes, textures, and colors and are thus ideal for creating your own signature look. The Antika pavers, pictured here by Techo-Bloc, are perfect to create a rustic look, while the Blu 80 mm collection allows for a more modern approach. Mixing color tones helps create a more custom design. 1001 landscape ideas at TECHO -BLOC.COM
WARM SETTINGS —
Lighting is a key architectural and design element in a home. Adding fire features to your outdoor space warms it up and creates a soothing ambiance. Techo-Bloc carries many fire features for the outdoors that can be converted from woodburning to natural gas to suit different applications.
Miss Porter’s School, Office of Admission Adaptive Reuse of Former Grist Mill Farmington, CT
Innovations in Stucco by John Garuti, Jr
We love the ageless look of stucco, but few of us know about the innovative technologies that make some modern stuccos more attractive to environmentalists and regulators as well as designers, builders and buyers. These technologies eliminate volatile organic compounds and reduce long-term maintenance with non-toxic protection against microbial attack, while boosting breathability, water repellency and longevity. Here in the mid-Atlantic and northeastern states, the wall system of choice is likely to be an exterior insulated finishing system (EIFS). The decorative finish that we see on the surface is typically a troweled acrylic stucco, but it can be a flexible Portland cement stucco, or a textured masonry coating that applies like paint. Acrylic finishes are favored for their limitless variety of colors and consistency of appearance. New York Stucco™ is preferred because it is the first pre-mixed acrylic stucco with zero VOCs, and it is imbued with a non-toxic antimicrobial agent that offers long-term protection against algae, mildew and other molds. In other words, it
Private residence built by Stone Harbor Land Company, Greenwich CT New York Stucco™ Medium Sand Finish
is better for the environment and it can be applied to both exterior and interior surfaces. Portland cement stuccos, which are favored for greater durability, breathability and a more traditional look, became available for EIFS-type construction in 2009 with the advent of TESS® Thinset Exterior Surfacing System. TESS is engineered to provide flexibility and resilience that were unavailable to earlier generations of architects and builders. Masonry coatings can be the best choice when time and cost are of particular concern, because they apply like paint. Bestcoat™ Textured Masonry Coatings are preferred because they show like a finely textured stucco. They are ideal for revitalizing and waterproofing
weathered surfaces because they cover and hide much more effectively than paints. If the look of stucco is ageless, so too is the problem of color degradation due to sunlight, rain and dew. Our new nanoscale technology improves color retention and longevity of acrylic finishes and coatings as it combats the natural processes of aging. Buildings will remain fresh and attractive despite years of weathering. John Garuti, Jr is the founder and president of Formulated Solutions LLC, a New York City-based manufacturer of high-performance building materials for commercial and residential construction. Learn more about the company’s wall systems, masonry and specialty products at www.formulatedsolutions.net
Planning Architecture Interior Design
L
D S CA
INNOVATIVE AND DURABLE SYSTEMS
P
LL
HITTY
E
W
FOR OUTDOOR PORCELAIN TILE INSTALLATIONS WHAT IS THE GATOR TILE SYSTEM? The Gator Tile System is a comprehensive line of products to help you install outdoor tile with precision, beauty and long-lasting stability. It’s easy to use, saving you time and money while giving you the most professional looking results.
D E S I G N,
Beth’s vision is to provide highly
PLANT L I F E Beth is a 2015 HOBI Award winner for the Washington Barn House estate.
functioning, yet aesthetically pleasing landscape solutions that reflect the mood of the environment. She creates welcoming outdoor living environments.
landscape design & installation | complimentary consultation
To see our portfolio of work, visit bethwhittylandscapedesign.com
Beth Whitty | (203) 512-4389
www.DRAarchitects.com
AN
C BETH
TESS is a registered trademark and New York Stucco and Bestcoat are trademarks of Formulated Solutions LLC
THE PERFECT TILE INSTALLATION METHOD Visit AllianceGator.com/GTS
Value-added s e r v i c e s each & every day o&g’s professional team
Katie Palmieri, architect and CAD specialist
of the o&g Published by O&G Industries, Masonry Division vice-president
Kara Oneglia
content manager Bob Mandino
editor & art director Anita Goerig printing
J.S. McCarthy Printers
contributing editors Mark Arigoni
Cameron Henry
James Barrett
Mike Plaster
Simone Amillotta Jessica Circarello Staffed by masonry experts with a wealth of industry knowledge, the O&G team is here to guide your project from concept to completion. We will ease your burden by offering project solutions for specific environments, presenting product and fabrication options, and advising on care and maintenance while meeting your budget requirements. O&G’s Earth Products Showcases inspire customers, with a vast selection of materials for interior and exterior projects. Your custom stone profiling projects are meticulously managed at our fabrication and distribution center, a state-of-the-art facility. place your trust in our hands
We offer value-added services each and every day. The O&G team is always on hand to assist you, well beyond the sale. Whether you are looking to renovate or create new, the professionals at O&G take away the hassle by giving you an unparalleled experience—one that is pleasant and productive.
Lisa Davenport
Rick Filloramo Louis Fusco
Daniel Granniss
Shea Quarton Eric Rains
Nancy Spaulding Matt Tobin
Alliance Gator (38, 111) Belgard Mirage (23)
Beth Whitty Landscape Design (110) Boral-Instone (12, 114)
Champlain Stone (6)
Charles Hilton Architects (45) Deborah Martin Designs (51)
Drummey Rosane Anderson (111)
Eric Rains (81)
Formulated Solutions (69, 108)
Freddy’s Landscaping (68) Isokern (115)
Laticrete (84, 108)
Lisa Davenport Designs (56)
Louis Fusco Landscape Architect (61)
Marshalls, Plc (32)
Braving showers and gloomy skies on a Saturday morning this past May, over 1,000 enthusiastic visitors from across Connecticut descended on O&G’s annual Touch a Truck event. The concrete mixers, excavators, dump trucks, ambulances and police cars were all polished, positioned and ready to be explored. Little hands spun oversize steering wheels, flashed lights and added to the energy of the day with blasts from air horns and sirens. The event also featured hay rides, face painting, frisbee toss, sand art and a “smoke house” from the Torrington Fire Department.
Oldcastle Architecture (98)
Fifty O&G volunteers set up and ran the affair. Safety Director Mike Ferry was pleased with the event that capped off O&G’s Safety Week. “We have a strong commitment to safety, families and community. Touch a Truck is a perfect marriage of the three, reinforcing the message that working safely means returning home to your family at the end of the day.”
Pavestone (8)
Making Big Strides for a Cure
Bernadette White
advertisers
International Masonry Institute (90)
O&G’s Distribution Center in Beacon Falls, Connecticut
Deborah Martin
Families flock to Touch a Truck
Milone & MacBroom (60) O&G Industries (10) Quikrete (80)
RealStone Systems (2, 98) Redland Brick (33) Royal Perla (14)
The S/L/A/M Collaborative (50) Spaulding Landscape (22) Stantec (85)
Stonewalls by George (91) Superior Clay (39)
Techo-Bloc (44, 109) Unilock (57)
Wesley Stout Associates (114)
O&G Industries’ awareness and fund-raising efforts throughout this past October went to support Making Strides of Litchfield County, a local chapter of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Network. The Network’s signature events are high-profile walks. And while a team from O&G did participate and raise funds in a Making Strides walk, employee coordinators
who wanted to contribute even more developed events that appealed to a wider range of people than the walk alone. The additional employee-developed events included a “Lunch and Learn” kick-off with testimonies from O&G cancer survivors, casual day dress downs, a “Real Men Wear Pink Day” when pink clothing raised awareness a paint night for friends and family at a local art space, plus cook-offs and raffles. O&G social media accounts were used to spread the word and build participation. Responding to the enthusiasm and accomplishments of their employees, executive management donated funds equaling the monies raised, doubling O&G’s contribution to Making Strides. Graham Kobs is Community Manager of Special Events at the American Cancer Society. He was the Society’s representative in charge of Making Strides in Waterbury and Torrington. “At the core, really, is how remarkable O&G’s community engagement with the folks in the Northwest Corner is,” says Kobs. “I attended the Lunch and Learn kickoff and was moved with how many O&G staff attended and with their enthusiasm. The money raised through all the events they ran and the matching funds is amazing, but what is even more important to us is the impact and relevance of our partnership with O&G. O&G is based in the community and supports the community. They always go above and beyond and it is an honor to partner with them.” The efforts earned the company a 2016 Community Service Award from the Connecticut Construction Industries Association.
Landscape Architecture
Urban Design
Planning
www.wesleystout.com
Cultured Stone
®
The name that built an industry™
“Undoubtedly the best brand and most powerful brand in the industry.” Gordon Strout CEO and President, Instone
The team at Cultured Stone® by Boral® has been in the masonry business for quite some time. With an investment in knowledge resources and field personnel, Cultured Stone® has built one of the best brands in the industry. A rich history of quality and true partnership drives innovation forward with products that create sophisticated structures and stately homes. At Cultured Stone®, customers and dealers are treated as equals and build strong relationships with representatives.
A Bold Brand, A Powerful Partnership.
Gordon Strout has witnessed a great transformation with Cultured Stone® by Boral® and champions the brand’s commitment to its partners. Strout began working with Cultured Stone® over 20 years ago. Open communication is Strout’s strongest tool in maintaining partnerships as well as streamlining product launches and warehouse operations. The result— “Innovation. New Products. Just Phenomenal.” BRICK
STONE
SIDING
TRIM
MAXIMUS Direct Vent Gas Fireplace
203.966.3100
ROOFING
1.800.255.1727 | www.culturedstone.com
by Boral
®
First-Ever MASONRY
DIRECT VENT Fireplace
MAXIMUS, the first ever masonry direct vent gas fireplace, connects you with the beautiful, captivating, power of fire — in the comfort of your home. Offering an expansive ceramic glass opening with Invisi-Barrier and Triple Stadium Burner for exceptional appearance and flame presentation. With an array of options, the MAXIMUS provides endless possibilities for making your space warm and inviting.
Made in the USA
earthcore.co We make fire... better.
Find us on Facebook at www.OG.Ind.Masonry
Toll Free: 1-800-862-3533 | www.ogind.com/mason Bridgeport | Danbury | Hartford | Middletown | Stamford | Torrington | Waterbury