Landscape Architect Articles

LASN PMBR December 2009: Ancient Stone: Porphyry Gains Popularity in 20th Century Landscape Design12-01-09 | News

Ancient Stone: Porphyry Gains Popularity in 20th Century Landscape Design

The New Mexico Museum of Art features two courtyard landscapes paved in porphyry, where the stone serves as a foundation for many of the Museum?EUR??,,????'?????<

In a society increasingly concerned with the safety and durability of our streets, walkways, and even driveways, landscape architects are adopting new paving materials and methods that meet their customers’ requirements for both functionality and aesthetics. Ironically, many are turning to a natural stone paver that dates back many centuries when it was first used to design the streets and various monuments in Imperial Rome.

Porphyry, a type of plutonic, igneous rock, is becoming the natural stone of choice for landscape architects who recognize the problems associated with many modern paving techniques. In addition to being one of the most durable options for paving, the variety of colors and design options available makes it one of the most sought-after materials for paving and facing in the U.S., Europe, and around the world.

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The Royal Stone

The term “porphyry” is from the Greek and means “purple.” Throughout history porphyry was considered a royal stone by emperors, pharaohs and kings and was treasured for its color, texture and hardness. Since the Roman era, roads, public spaces, and squares have been paved with porphyry and many exist to this day throughout Europe.

Flexibility in Design

Porphyry offers infinite possibilities for uses as it suits many different environments and is both functional and decorative. It is used by landscape architects for everything from country houses, to residential buildings and public and private construction projects. Porphyry can be worked into cubes, pavers, tiles, irregular flagging, curbstones, borders and rustic wall veneer and is also available with sawn or snap cut edges.

For more than 20 years, SWA group has worked with Stanford University to continuously improve the institution's landscape while preserving the historic beauty of the century old campus. Specifically, landscape architect Rick Story of SWA chose porphyry to accent some of the main areas of the campus that allow students, faculty, and visitors to circulate and gather, like the bicycle routes and campus center.

Landscape architect Rick Story with SWA Group – recognized as a world leader in landscape architecture, urban design and planning – has used porphyry in a variety of commercial projects. For more than 20 years, SWA group has worked with Stanford University to continuously improve the institution’s landscape while preserving the historic beauty of the century old campus. “When it comes to color, texture, and cost, few natural paving materials compare to porphyry,” said Story. “The stone lends itself beautifully to an exterior hardscape featuring a rustic yet sophisticated quality.”
While the aesthetic appeal of porphyry is enough to catch the attention of many landscape architects, the durability of the stone is perhaps its strongest selling point. Eric Enfield, an architect with Santa Fe, NM-based Architectural Alliance, Inc. has worked with porphyry in a variety of commercial and residential projects. The New Mexico Museum of Art features two courtyard landscapes paved in porphyry, where the stone serves as a foundation for many of the Museum?EUR??,,????'?????< “In designing the landscape of the Museum, we had to choose a material that wouldn’t run the risk of cracking under the weight of its heavy sculptures,” said Enfield.

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Porphyry Design and Patterns

Porphyry cubes are the most recognized style of porphyry. They offer infinite possibilities in different geometrical patterns – arch, circle, fan, or peacock tail – and are sometimes framed by porphyry of a different color. Staggered cubes offer greater resistance to heavy loads and forces and are excellent for road paving.

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Irregular flagging is also a paving method used for exterior surfaces and is particularly suitable for paving squares, patios, courtyards, pavements, pedestrian passages, driveways, garden paths and portals. Because of its rough surface, this material is particularly useful for bordering swimming pools. Porphyry is used in modern architecture to add a personal touch to open spaces and to give buildings an element of functionality and decoration.

Veneer placed flat, one on top of the other, is particularly suitable for facing walls, pillars and wainscots. Placed perpendicularly, side by side, they are used for paving steep sloping roads, particularly in areas subject to frosting and in garage approach ramps.

About the Author ?EUR??,,????'?????< Miles Chaffee is the founder and president of Milestone Imports, the largest importer of Mexico Porphyry in the U.S. Seven years ago, Chaffee obtained exclusive rights to the largest porphyry quarry in Mexico, located in San Luis de la Paz, GTO, and now distributes the porphyry throughout North America and Asia Working with AEC Daily.com, Chaffee has developed a course called “Porphyry as a Permeable Pavement” offering free educational learning credits to more than 12 organizations in Canada and the US Projects include the St. Francis Cathedral Labyrinth, Santa Fe, NM; Sandhill Rosewood Hotel, Menlo Park, CA ; Ritz Carlton Hotel, Palm Beach, FL; Disneyland Hong Kong, Fantasy Land and many homes throughout the US and Canada. For more information, contact info@milestoneimports.com