Natierlech Steenbekleedung: Verankert an der Vergaangenheet, awer prett fir d'Zukunft - Steen gekleet

The longevity of stone puts any human concept of old age to shame. Stone creates a sense of permanence and solidity, even when worn and weathered. It’s been used throughout history as the structure and facade of buildings- buildings that have literally stood the test of time.

While natural stone has been the material of choice for millennia, glass has dominated commercial construction—especially large scale projects like skyscrapers—in recent years. But architects are increasingly reacting to this glut of glass by returning to stone for their projects. For many developers and architects, glass had become the default, a sterile, too obvious choice which resulted in a flat, texture-less and uninspired design.

Den Iwwergang vu Glas zréck op Steen ass och e Resultat vun Ëmweltproblemer. New York City Buergermeeschter Bill De Blasio ass viru kuerzem geplënnert verbidden nei Glas Wolkenkratzer in the city, making New York the first city to mandate energy efficiency. But it won’t be the last: According to the United Nations, 40% of the world’s energy consumption can be attributed to buildings. Pressure to construct buildings in a sustainably responsible manner is being felt by developers and architects around the world.

30,5 × 30,5 cm Quarzite Naturstein Kiesel Mosaik Fliesen

INDIANA LIMESTONE – FULL COLOR BLEND™ Fassad op Prefabbeton | Yankee Stadium | Architekt: Populous

“It’s pretty well known in the industry that those glass facade buildings are not energy efficient,” said Hugo Vega, vice president of Architectural Sales at Polycor. “Meaning that in the summer it becomes super hot and you need to have an extensive system of air conditioning and in the winter you need a lot of heating as compared to a traditional building with more stone.”

The design community has been embracing stone for facade design instead, and just in time, as changes in building codes and regulations are set to further tighten architects’ design choices. Natural stone plays an important role in the future of sustainable architecture thanks to its life-cycle, durability, ease of care, low maintenance, and energy efficiency— the list goes on. The minimal environmental impact that innovative cladding wall systems provide is another reason the building industry is moving back to natural materials.

Polycor Natursteng sinn applicabel fir eng Vielfalt vu Fassadverankerung an Ënnerstëtzungssystemer. Gesinn wéi.

“Energy inefficient glass facades concerns are a good driver for the growing popularity of stone cladding,” said Vega.

Vega understands this continued demand for stone cladding better than just about anyone: he’s been the driving force behind the development of the cladding division of Polycor and he has an in-depth understanding of what architects and builders are looking for in their products.

BETHEL WHITE® an CAMBRIAN BLACK® Granit 3cm Paneele op Eclad System installéiert iwwer existent Struktur | TD Gebai | Architekt: WZMH

“The type of stone will dictate possible finishes, thickness, and more,” said Vega. “For example, it’s inadvisable to use polished 3cm marble and expose it to the elements for cladding. Direct communication with selected quarries will help validate the block sizes and thus the maximum finished panel sizes, what natural features can be expected in the stone, and the availability of the material according to job size and phases.” Specification challenges can present themselves throughout a project, such as alternate stones being introduced by other parties and detracting from the initial design intent. Maintaining a close contact with the quarry teams helps ensure this is preserved. As Hugo points out, “Make sure to specify the true, branded names of the materials to avoid being supplied with undesired alternates.” The old days of calling out Italienesch Marmer doesn’t cut it anymore.

AN DER VIRLIESEN VUN NATURAL STEEN CLADDING INNOVATIOUN

Stone cladding isn’t just the smart alternative to energy efficient glass, it’s also the simple choice, thanks to new cladding attachment systems.

“These new attachment systems allow stone to be used for lighter applications, when the structure has not been designed for a heavy full bed,” said Vega. “They also allow for a faster installation compared to traditional methods.“

Innovativ Verkleedungsléisungen erlaben méi Designméiglechkeeten | Op der Foto: Litecore dënn geschnidden Indiana Kalkstein befestegt un Aluminium Honeycomb Backing

Verkleedungsinnovatiounen kënnen eng elegant a kosteneffizient Léisung ubidden fir d'Faarwen an d'Texturen vum Natursteen z'integréieren ouni d'Komplikatioune vum deiere Transport a laanger Installatioun. Wärend den authenteschen Charakter vum Natursteen personifizéiert, bleiwen e puer vun dëse Systemer liicht fir einfach ze benotzen, wat et eng intelligent Wiel mécht fir déi strikt Ufuerderungen unzegoen, déi Architekten a modernen Baucodes erfëllen mussen.

Polycor Natursteng sinn applicabel fir eng Vielfalt vu Fassadverankerung an Ënnerstëtzungssystemer. Ursprénglech an der Polycor Steebroch and all through production, the stones are manufactured to each of our partner system’s specifications from ultra-thin profiles up to full thickness dimensional elements complimenting a wide range of facade structures.

Wann Dir e Steen fir d'Verkleedung auswielen, mussen d'Architekten vill Faktoren weien: Erscheinung, beabsichtigte Gebrauch, Gréisst vum Projet, Kraaft, Haltbarkeet a Leeschtung. Andeems Dir Polycor-Steng fir Fassaden auswielen, profitéieren d'Architekten vun eisem vollen Eegentum vun der Versuergungskette, vum ganze Wee erof an de Fiels bis zur Installatioun. De Wäert vun der Aarbecht mat enger Firma wéi Polycor ass, datt well mir eis Steebroch besëtzen, mir kënnen direkt op all Froen oder Bedenken äntweren, déi en Architekt während dem Prozess vun der Entwécklung vun enger Spezifizéierung fir eng Fassad hunn amplaz 2-3 Mëttleren ze hunn.

Polycor Bethel White® granite quarry | Bethel, VT

“We have a wide array of our own limestone, granite and marble, so architects can discuss with the source and get accurate and reliable information,” said Vega. “We fabricate ourselves and sell blocks to other fabricators, ensuring competitiveness of the offers, while preserving the design intent. We work with industry leaders like Eclad, Hofmann Stein and others to offer a complete cladding solution for the project.“

Vega huet sech un innovative Verkleedungstechnologien interesséiert a mat Fuerschungs- an Entwécklungsexperten bei eise Fabrikatiounsanlagen zesummegeschafft fir natierlech Steenbekleedung vu variabelen Dicke ze maachen, déi entweder bannen oder ausserhalb vun engem Gebai benotzt kënne ginn. Et gëtt allgemeng iwwer en onofhängege Schinne- a Klemmsystem befestegt.

Polycor’s stone veneer can be installed over solid facing, which eliminates the challenge of removing the original substructure in some cases. Some stone panels are cut thin, while still maintaining the authentic look and feel of a thicker stone without the heavy weight of a 3-6 inch deep stone veneer, making installation fast and simple. Polycor’s thin stones are compatible in many cladding configurations and are manufactured for systems like Litecore, eng Léisung déi Steen mat enger Fraktioun vum Gewiicht an Installatioun mat duebeler Geschwindegkeet ubitt.

Bild Ugedriwwe vun: Litecore

Stone on Honeycomb mam Litecore System

Dës versatile, Komposit Mauerplacke benotzen Polycor Steen an en ultra-dënnen Furnier geschnidden. Gehaangen op schichten Hunneg, sandwichéiert tëscht Aluminiumplacken a Glasfasermesh, bidden d'Panelen eng niddereg Dicht, héich Kraaft a liicht Fassadsystem.

KODIAK BROWN™ ultra thin 1cm granite with carbon fiber backing on Eclad system | Architect: Régis Côtés

1cm Carbon-Backed Stone mat Eclad an Elemex Systemer

Polycor 1cm Kuelestofffaser-ënnerstëtzte Placken sinn ultra dënn, liicht an haltbar Natursteenprodukter, déi op en agehale propriétaire Backing vertrauen, deen amplaz vun Aluminium benotzt gëtt. Déi resultéierend Steenplacke sinn ugepasst fir an Eclad an Elemex Verkleedungssystemer z'integréieren.

GEORGIA MARBLE – WHITE CHEROKEE™and Indiana Limestone facade on precast concrete | 900 16th St. Washington, D.C. | Architect: Robert AM Stern

Steen op Ultra-High Performance Beton

3cm stone mechanically anchored to thin, precast concrete panels provides additional installation advantages. Companies such as Hoffman Stone systems are compatible with Polycor’s stones.

Polycor huet d'Expertise fir all Projet vun enger einfacher Mauer bis Bänken ze kreéieren, aussergewéinlech architektonesch Projeten an Héichhaus-Lobby-Interieuren. All Léisung erlaabt Architekten innovativ, nohalteg an ästhetesch agreabel Baubaussen ze designen mat Steenflächen.

“These solutions can also be used interchangeably to blend with more traditional architectural elements and stone masonry construction such as full bed trim, cornices, lintels and things of that nature,” said Vega. “And again, once the material is specified, it can be used on any cladding system, traditional masonry and fabricated by pretty much all the fabricators operating on the market today. This way architects can lock in their design intent, and let engineers and builders establish means and methods to realize the design within budget.”