ATTENTION ALL ARCHITECTS AND HOMEOWNERS!
If you are an architect or a residential homeowner and are thinking of home renovations with the current $25k homeowners grant, here are some application ideas of Australian Sandstone to incorporate into, or innovate from, project designs.
Mount White Brown Range Gosford Quarries Sandstone, gang sawn cladding
Contemporary Architecture and Australian Sandstone
Australian Sandstone has been used since colonial times and is visible in our most iconic buildings throughout the major cities. It is also a key feature at many historical sites across Australia.
Withstanding the test of time, contemporary architecture still, to this day, utilises this timeless stone in civil, commercial and residential architectural projects.
Australian War Memorial Canberra, Gosford Quarries Wondabyne
With its unique range of colours and finishes, its thermal regulatory qualities and its ability to remain strong as a building material over the significant passing of time, Australian sandstone is both a steadfast structural material to incorporate in design and a unique visual feature. Sandstone gives another dimension to architectural design as it can be as much about artistic expression as practical design application.
In this way, the blending of ‘the old and the new’ is typical of much of today’s contemporary architectural design.
Heritage restorations and renewal of urban dwellings also feature Australian sandstone. Sometimes sandstone is a modern addition to a heritage style home, where the stone was not utilised historically.
Heritage style homes can be completely transformed with the addition of the natural beauty of Australian Sandstone, from small to large scale application.
Bay Street House, Gosford Quarries light brown sandstone
Sandstone is the Perfect Natural Material Choice for Contemporary Architectural Designs
Sandstone is one of the most perfect materials you can choose to integrate into your contemporary architectural designs when considering sustainability, durability and insulation.
As a natural product, the scope for sandstone to be fashioned (profiled) into various custom sizes and shapes (sandstone finishes) makes the material a perfect choice in executing an original visionary design. Sandstone colours are also infinitely varied in tone, banding and texture, which makes it the perfect choice for any contemporary design.
Even though various colours are generally identified (such as banded varieties of brown, white (including pure white) and pink, and unbanded selections of greys (refer to the Gosford Quarries Wondabyne colour range), buff, cream, yellow and gold, etc, there is an incredible variance in the shift and intensity of sandstone colour within this versatile stone, which is sometimes beautifully subtle or bolder and pronounced. All can be equally spectacular in their own ways and can turn any project into a standout design.
Finally, sandstone is aesthetically versatile; pattern, colour, texture and finish all combine to further enhance any project design.
Dyuralya Square Waterloo, Gosford Quarries brown sandstone blocks
5 Applications of Australian Sandstone in Modern Architecture
Below are five of the most common applications of sandstone. Each sandstone product, however, is infinitely unique to inspire ideas for sandstone application. The uniqueness within any sandstone product is borne from the variety of colour variations and the nature of the stone and advent of latest technologies to profile and shape it. Even more, the beautiful quality of sandstone, shifting its hues and shades over time, gives an ever more unique character to the design it is applied to with a constant delighting result.
#1 Sandstone Cladding in Contemporary Architecture
Sandstone cladding is often a feature employed in modern design. Significant benefits of using sandstone cladding include durability, strength and the outstanding aesthetic appeal of the colours (banding and non-banded) and finishes (textures) available. Sandstone adds a beautiful warmth and character to any architectural feature wall. It also achieves a point of difference and a visual contrast to the surrounding environment in external applications.
Stonewall cladding is available as panels in standard and custom sizing at Gosford Quarries. There are standard sizes for rock faced cladding, split cladding and sawn cladding in sandstone. However, a range of finishes, colours, sizes and styles are available for any stone wall cladding application for houses and any other architectural structure in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. What makes Gosford Quarries unique, however, is its ability to custom-cut sandstone cladding into any size, pattern and customise bespoke finishes to your specification.
“For custom lengths and heights, it is best to speak to one of Gosford Quarries’ sandstone experts as there are some restrictions based on thickness and style of material.”
North Bondi Gosford Quarries Brown sandstone colour range rock-faced cladding
Some of the sandstone finishes available for you to differentiate and style your project include:
Rock faced
Diamond sawn
Hydra split
Margins
Chamfer
Sparrow pecked
Gang sawn
Boasted/chiselled
Depending on the application in use, each finish offers a unique textural choice and particular visual character to your project.
Harbord Diggers Freshwater, Gosford Quarries brown sandstone colour range ballast walling
#2 Sandstone Walling in Contemporary Architecture
The type of project will determine the sandstone product used for solid block walling in sandstone. Uses include architecture wall features in residential, civil and commercial projects and landscaping in a broader context which can consist of all of the applications mentioned above. Again, the beauty of a natural sandstone wall achieves warmth and character in colour and texture to the look you are aiming to achieve in the execution of your vision and design.
The application of solid sandstone blocks in restoration and also civil and government projects is common. Sandstone blocks were used in the building of Canberra’s famous War Memorial and most heritage buildings in Sydney will boast these solid walling blocks as foundation stones for the building.
In landscaping and external spaces, landscaping sandstone blocks are ideal for retaining walls in garden design. Gosford Quarries supply the most extensive range of colours of the sandstone in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Custom-cut dimensions of any configuration and scope are available; the only limit is your imagination.
Harbord Diggers Club Freshwater, Gosford Quarries white sandstone, honed, curved, profiled cladding
Sandstone in Landscaping for Garden Edging Stones and Edging for Garden Beds
Sandstone is a wonderful material to include in your landscaping designs for clients. In garden design projects, sandstone edging garden stones can provide an incredible visual impact. Combined with edging pavers, a practical and impactful new architectural landscaping project can be achieved with sandstone walling.
Internal spaces can have that ‘wow’ factor with sandstone feature walls, where the walling and cladding juxtapose within the space of your design, becoming a stand out feature, and natural artistic expression.
Sandstone is an incredibly original material visually and talented architects can execute stunning feature walls in this natural stone.
“Call one of Gosford Quarries’ experts today to discuss your next stunning residential feature wall design.”
Harbord Diggers Club Freshwater, Gosford Quarries white sandstone, honed, curved, profiled cladding
#3 Sandstone Capping in Contemporary Architecture
Gosford Quarries’ dimension cut sandstone capping are available in standard sizes in supply lines. As Australia’s largest sandstone supplier, Gosford Quarries offers a comprehensive range of dimension cut products ideal for landscaping projects, construction and restoration work.
Sandstone capping is used for the decoration of the top of rendered or cladded sandstone block walls, however, it has a functional purpose to prevent water staining the face of the wall. There are a variety of finishes you can choose for the edges of your sandstone capping.
Mosman, Gosford Quarries Mangrove Buff sandstone colour range, sparrow peck finish
Sandstone Capping in Landscaping for Retaining Walls and Garden Edging Blocks
Sandstone capping is also perfect for your retaining walls or garden edging. Aesthetic appeal in design can be executed in various finishes, such as front and back rockfaced edging. Sandstone capping is also available for edges, corners and the ends of sandstone walling structures. Gosford Quarries can customise curved, profiled and L-shaped capping pieces to your requirements.
Sawn sandstone capping is available for a less rustic, higher-end look while being friendly to budgets. Colour variations of choice can also achieve a particular character and feature for any landscaping or retaining wall.
Use sandstone capping stones to achieve unique and stunning appeal in any outdoor landscaping walls; retaining walls, boundary walls and also garden or perimeter walls of pools and properties. It is the finishing touch to give an elegance to and to enhance, the already natural beauty of any sandstone wall.
Profiled Architectural feature stones, Gosford Quarries, Buff select colour
#4 Sandstone Paving in Contemporary Landscaping Architecture
Sandstone is the perfect material for any paving project with its natural slip-resistant surface and its fantastic thermal qualities. As a natural stone material, it is often the preferred material for paving and flooring.
Create stunning looks for Australian Pools with natural sandstone paving around pool areas (be they residential or commercial in hospitality settings), where you can protect both family and guest feet from our scorching summer days.
Wunulla, Gosford Quarries pure white sandstone
Sandstone Tiles for Interior Architectural Projects
Internally, sandstone tiles are an excellent and distinctive natural floor covering, with a range of colours and textures available to complement any design. Durability in high traffic areas makes sandstone paving a natural material choice. The combination of visual appeal and design function make sandstone paving a winner for internal flooring in contemporary design.
There is also the psychological impact of association with the beach and outdoors, evoking a sense of freedom, all generated by a beautiful sandstone floor. Subconsciously, sandstone tiles and flooring can be a mentally grounding element in your design as much as an architectural application.
Flinders medium brown, Gosford Quarries random rock-faced sandstone
#5 Sandstone Pool Coping in Contemporary Architecture
Sandstone coping finishes the top edge of the pool surrounds, the ‘shell’ that a pool sits within. Pool coping can execute a wonderful visual complement to any contemporary pool design with a range of colours and finishes to profile the sandstone coping.
Sandstone has so many colour variations and, as a material, can be ‘finished’ to any texture or shape, so there is a fantastic scope to utilise this natural stone material in your pool edging and coping.
A sandstone edge for a pool coping stone will make your pool design unique, as the versatility of sandstone material allows you to combine the qualities of the material with a particular finish, creating a unique design, delighting your clients with something distinctive that they can rave about and parade when entertaining. Sandstone is a common choice around pools and entertainment spaces as it is naturally slip resistant.
Tripp house, Gosford Quarries light-medium brown, diamond sawn sandstone cladding
Sandstone Pool Coping Pavers and Sandstone Pool Paving for Dazzling Swimming Pool Designs
Sandstone pool coping tiles are available in a wide range of varieties. Combined with pool coping pavers and sandstone pool paving, you can create a stunning, memorable and noteworthy design to put you on the map of today’s trending designers.
Not only is sandstone a practical material for any pool paving and coping, but it is also the perfect material for aesthetic use, fully expressing your own unique thumbprint as a leading contemporary architect in the Australian market.
Tripp House, light-medium brown, Gosford Quarries diamond sawn sandstone cladding
Specifying Sandstone for Your Next Architectural Project
The sandstone experts at Gosford Quarries Sandstone can assist and support you in specifying any sandstone product to apply and match to the vision of your architectural design. Working closely with the Gosford Quarries team will ensure the integration of any unique and high-quality sandstone product you choose is applied with the innovation and highly individualistic way you have imagined.
“When you deal with Gosford Quarries you have the confidence and peace of mind that the sandstone product you choose is a perfect match to the function you envision, and that each and every product is installed with best practice to last the test of time.”
Call Gosford Quarries today on 02 8585 8282.
A version of this article appears on the OutdoorDesign website here.