Stone, Time and Legacy: A Conversation with Artorius Faber

At RISE, we’ve always believed that the materials we choose tell stories — about place, about time, about how we value what we build and who we build for.

So when we sat down with Edward Smith of Artorius Faber, the conversation turned, as it should, to stone — one of the oldest materials we know, and still one of the most quietly radical.

Watch: Edward Smith of Artorius Faber and Sean Ronnie Hill discuss how natural stone’s durability, reuse and low embodied carbon help shape more resilient buildings

Stone is Slow — And That’s Its Power

Edward reminds us that real sustainability rarely shouts. It ages. It weathers. It endures.

Natural stone, he explains, doesn’t bow to trends. If you choose the right stone, in the right place, with care and craft, it can outlast fashions, owners, and even our short-term thinking.

In a world hooked on speed and disposability, stone is a lesson in slowness — and that might be exactly what we need.

Nothing Wasted, Everything Used

Artorius Faber’s approach is a masterclass in using what you have.

They quarry their own stone in the UK — a process bound by strict planning rules that demand respect for the land and its resources. Large blocks become paving, then sets, then cobbles, then gravel. Nothing is left idle.

It’s not just sustainable. It’s beautifully circular. The same stone, in different forms, shaping the character of a place from street to doorstep.

The Hidden Carbon Story

As architects, we talk endlessly about embodied carbon. But we often overlook stone’s quiet advantage.

Compared to energy-hungry concrete or heavily processed bricks, stone’s carbon footprint is surprisingly light — quarried, cut, and placed with minimal additives.

Edward points to projects where solid stone elements — lintels, steps, even structural pieces — cut out the need for concrete altogether. A small decision, repeated enough, can shift the needle.

Old Stones, New Lives

There’s something humbling about walking on paving slabs that have lasted centuries. Edward spoke about Bath, where reclaimed sandstone has been carefully lifted, re-trimmed, and given another life underfoot.

Good stone doesn’t retire. It simply waits for a new purpose — whether on a streetscape, a threshold, or a quiet courtyard.

Innovation Meets Tradition

Stone has its challenges. Some see it as heavy, expensive, or cumbersome — the opposite of ‘fast build’. But Edward’s team is proving otherwise.

They’re experimenting with thinner cuts, smarter saw blades, and better water recycling. Even stone waste is finding new life — mixed into mortar, it replaces less sustainable products and keeps the story whole.

The goal? Keep stone solid. Keep it structural. Bring it back from the cladding and the aggregate to where it belongs — load-bearing, lasting, visible.

A Legacy Mindset

Perhaps the most striking insight from this conversation wasn’t technical. It was a reminder that materials aren’t just ‘products’.

Private clients often get this first. They think about legacy — what they’re passing on, what will remain when they’re gone. Developers and architects sometimes forget. But when we specify stone, we’re not just choosing a surface. We’re writing a message into the future: “This matters enough to last.”

A Closing Note

At RISE, we talk a lot about architecture as stewardship of the land, the materials, and the communities they serve.

This conversation with Edward confirmed what we already knew in our bones: that natural stone, responsibly quarried and wisely specified, is one of the clearest ways to build lightly yet lastingly.

And maybe that’s the greatest sustainability story of all: not doing more, but doing better.

Here’s to stone. Here’s to buildings that stand the test of time — and the people who care enough to craft them well.

Designing for Resilience

At RISE, working with stone — like our commitment to retrofit — isn’t just about honouring the past; it’s about future-proofing the present. It’s how we shape buildings that breathe, adapt, and endure. Places that stay cool when summers swell. That use less but give more. That protect the people inside while treading lightly on the planet outside.

Considering a retrofit, a deep energy upgrade, or simply want to build with materials that stand the test of time?

Let’s create spaces ready for tomorrow — and rooted in purpose.

→ Email us: architects@risedesignstudio.co.uk
→ Call us: 020 3947 5886

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