The Natural Stone Show 2017
T
he 12th Natural Stone Show takes
place at ExCeL, London 25-27 April.
With 200 exhibitor displays, it’s
well worth a visit to discover
first-hand the latest trends in landscape
architecture and design incorporating
stone.
There is natural stone from all over
the world – sandstone, granite, marble,
limestone, travertine, terrazzo and slate
- available in a multitude of different
finishes ranging from polished to honed;
sawn to flamed; brushed to sandblasted;
chiselled to bush-hammered; and tumbled
to chiselled.
There are more visitor features at the
Show this year than ever before, all
helping to make the Natural Stone
Show essential viewing for landscape
professionals.
50 Landscape & Urban Design
If it all becomes a little bit overwhelming,
don’t panic. There’s help at hand. Stone
Federation Great Britain and its members
have a ‘Stone Village’ at the heart of the
Show and it will have an Ask the Expert
panel of top stone consultants available
throughout.
They do not normally give away their
advice but at the Stone Show you will be
able to consult them for FREE!
If you are in need of inspiration, the
Natural Stone Awards Gallery will have
case studies and a photographic display of
the landscaping projects honoured at the
Stone Federation Awards last December.
And there is a whole programme of free
CPD run in conjunction with the Show at
the Natural Stone & Building Conservation
Conference. Each of the three days of the
Show has its own conference theme.
The opening day (25 April) explores
European innovation in stone design and
caters for building professionals with
five hours’ worth of RIBA CPD credits and
a free three-course lunch, perfect for
networking.
Day two looks at industry initiatives
including the Ethical Stone Register which
has been set up to assist clients in making
informed decisions about the companies
they should be using, so they avoid
sourcing paving materials from quarries
that employ child or bonded labour.
Architects will also presents a number
of award-winning landscaping projects.
Andy Thomson from BCA Landscape
provides an insight into the Douglas Town
Centre regeneration, whilst David Green of
SimpsonHaugh & Partners discusses the
Deansgate Metro Station scheme.