Natural stone has been one of the most basic materials of architecture throughout history, with its sustainability, timelessness, and its characteristic texture that contains traces of human experience. The forms it takes continue to transform and develop thanks to new technologies and innovative ideas. Natural stone is not only a building element today; it has expanded its dominance in many different areas such as interiors, furniture and decorative objects, and has become one of the indispensables of the design world. With the effect of the pandemic process we are experiencing, the hygiene factor and therefore natural materials have come one step ahead. In our Showcase, we asked architects and interior designers about how natural stone design trends will evolve in 2022, which types of spaces and products will be used more, and which types of natural stones will be preferred more in terms of characteristic colors, textures and patterns.
Aslı Arıkan Dayıoğlu
Interior Designer
Designist
Natural stone is one of
the oldest building materials in history. In the past, it was used for
constructive purposes in buildings as it is found in nature or roughly hewn,
but over time, it has been used for different purposes in spaces by gaining
different forms with the development of technology. Whether the natural stone
is used in the building construction or used as a covering material, the reason
for being in the building is not only a necessity but also a material that
comes from nature, healthy, ecological, provides thermal comfort and has an
aesthetic quality. Therefore, nowadays when we observe the return to nature
trend, we will frequently encounter the use of natural stone, especially in
interior projects.
When using natural stone in projects, it is very important to choose textures
and colors that are suitable for the spirit of the project. In 2022, I think
that the textural state of the stone, which has undergone technical processes
such as patina, acid reduction, sandblasting, burning, honing will be preferred
rather than the shiny natural stone. Marble, granite, travertine, whatever kind
of natural stone, I believe that it will always be one of the preferred
materials, not just this year.
Kaan Kutsal Alkan
Architect
Mimark Mimarlık
“The natural one is always
valuable, one step ahead. It is long-lasting, durable and clear.” You can use
this view in any field, be it for a person or a place. As an office with an
architectural philosophy that tries to present the clear, durable and valuable
in its projects, natural stone is an indispensable material for us; it makes
the place live, enriches and adds value.
We also reinforce this contribution with the
natural stone material suppliers specific to the region, with which we
cooperate, especially in the projects we design in different regions. The
desire to create a “unique” project/design by bringing together stones of
unique character should be underlined.
The architectural discipline cannot be
considered independent of psychology, sociology and current dynamics. In
parallel with this unity, we have experienced how much we need each other, no
matter how different we are, especially with the pandemic process we are going
through. While the natural stone material reminded us of being
“outside”, it actually showed the peace of “inside”.
Therefore, we think that natural stone’s durability, sustainability and
features that add value to the design will be talked about more in the new year.
Natural stone is also an ideal material to
create a personal touch in spaces. For example, in order to bring the outside
world inside, the use of natural stone is often preferred in kitchens,
bathrooms and fireplace frames in accordance with personal tastes. On the other
hand, works of art created with natural materials such as marble and wood that
nourish our souls also find a place in living spaces.
As the oldest material of building
technologies and architecture, natural stone, which serves the shelter,
protection and aesthetic needs of human beings, will appear this year and every
year as an indispensable element rather than being a trend. However, as with
other materials, there may be changes in their appearance; we can see a lot of
brushed, ground surface views.
Begüm Yazgan
Architect
Yazgan Design Architecture
When
we use natural stone, which means closeness to nature for me, in our
architectural buildings, we see that designs that are more integrated with
nature and that establish a holistic relationship with nature emerge. The use
of natural stone in spaces was based on a more regional understanding about ten
years ago. When the floor covering was the natural stone, the walls were
plastered and painted, and the ceiling was plasterboard. Nowadays, we see that
the same natural stone material can be applied in a continuous manner as
floors, walls, and ceilings, with a more holistic approach. Therefore, we
believe that this understanding, in which spaces that are more minimalist and
based on a single material or where a single color is dominant in all areas,
are at the forefront, will continue in 2022 as well.
Nowadays, thanks to new technologies, we
witness that natural stone is used not only as a building element, but also in
every field. Depending on these developments, the production styles that push
the limits of design have been integrated into the natural stone material. For
example, technological solutions have been produced that make the use of
natural stone economically easier on facades. As an example, on the facade of
our office project, which we designed recently and which is under construction
in Romania, we made an application that combines a thin section of natural
stone with an insulation material called “honeycomb”, together with
the panel curtain wall system, with the advice of our facade consultant. Thanks
to this system, the stone was used more economically and its weight was
minimized. Since it can be applied on a large scale, the facade surfaces of the
office campus are covered with natural stone.
As we mentioned before, technological
production techniques have removed all boundaries regarding texture, color and
pattern. Natural stone can now be used as a relief on facades. With robotic
cutting techniques, all kinds of natural stones can be shaped in any thickness
and texture. In addition, the colors can be varied with different dyeing
techniques. We think that this development will spread to different areas of
use by paving the way for designs and designers in the coming years.
Başak Akkoyunlu
Architect
Başak Akkoyunlu Design
Stone is a part of nature that has lived, continues to live, has a memory, like a human. The texture and feel that the stone adds to the architecture is very valuable to enrich the space. With the pandemic process we live in, the level of consciousness changes as the “house” takes on a different dimension. In this direction, I think that the effect of natural materials on human health may come to the fore more than industrial products that have not passed certain health tests. I think the demand for natural materials may increase in the new year. We still find natural stone indispensable for exterior facades, walls in living spaces, and fireplace walls. As processing techniques continued, the natural stone began to be used as a very rich complementary element for all kinds of furniture. In particular, we will see natural stones with different processes and cuts more often indoors in the new year. In this period when digital life is intensified, textured walls can draw the attention of users to the space, to the place where it is, albeit a bit. Therefore, I think that stones with soft and plain textures, modern, non-tiring and relaxing colors will be preferred more. In this sense, the designer has the responsibility of using the right amount in the right place. I also find it important to use natural resources consciously.
Dila Gökalp
Architect and Urban Planner
Dila Gökalp Design
All kinds of natural stone, which is the symbol of timelessness, classicism and elegance, has been a tool for humanity to shape cities and buildings for hundreds and even thousands of years. Looking back, natural stone is the representation of an extraordinary cultural accumulation. I hope with 2022 we will talk more about natural stone; especially at the intersection of art and design, perhaps as “collectible design”. I think that natural stone, which has been frequently preferred by designers in special objects and products in the past years, will appear with various design experiments next year. It is obvious that we are used to marble objects in our daily lives; therefore, natural stone can be used more in specially designed objects. In the new year, natural stone will be preferred more in the design of special products and will appear more frequently as an important element in interior design. We encounter more demands for the use of natural stone, especially in wet areas. In this period when the concept of well-being enters our living spaces and homes, we see an increasing use of natural stone in bathroom designs, and this trend seems to continue increasingly in 2022.
Erdem Hamulu
Architect
Ömer Hamulu
Architect
Pimodek Mimarlık
Natural stone is a characteristic material due to its formation. Each of its species makes sense of a different time and geography with each layer; reflects its texture and color. As Pimodek Architecture, we often prefer local natural stones in our projects, due to the atmosphere it creates in the space as well as the feeling it evokes in the user, the ease of use it offers, its durability and sustainability. Today, due to the pandemic, for about 2 years, natural material has come to the fore due to the discussions on hygiene. We believe that this approach will continue in 2022, so we think that natural stone will be preferred frequently in this respect. On the other hand, natural stone, which was previously perceived as a cold material, has been playing the leading role in interiors for a while. We believe that natural stone will be talked about frequently in 2022 as it creates different textures in living spaces and creates an aesthetic composition, either alone or by integrating with different materials. We also believe that natural stone will continue to be a trend on surfaces that come into direct contact with the user in the interior. With the advancement of technology, it is not possible to achieve a similar usage character with natural stone-like materials, a new one being used almost every day. In our projects, we do not give up on the use of natural stone in order to offer a quality design perception on indoor or outdoor surfaces, wall coverings, and especially furniture. Although you make interventions to increase the service life and quality of natural stone materials by making use of various technologies, it is very popular to use them by making them look like they are in nature. At this point, more natural colors and patterns come to the fore. However, we think that more matte and textured surfaces will be more prominent than glossy and smooth ones.
Filiz Cingi Yurdakul
Architect
AURA Design Studio
Natural
stone is much more environmentally sustainable than many other materials. Its
timeless appeal and less urge to change with the next trend make natural stones
indispensable for timeless designs.
Especially marble is one of the most
preferred materials with its elegance, timelessness and adding luxury and
refinement to designs. Marble is becoming a great option for use in areas such
as bathrooms and kitchens, where the design must be long-lasting in our homes.
With a focus on sustainability and a return to a more organic realism in design
in 2021, natural stone tiles are frequently on designers’ palettes. The love of
natural stone, one of the most popular trends of the past year, seems to
continue to increase in 2022.
I think marbles with thick gray veins on a
milky white background will find their place in designs with their luxurious
appeal in the new year. I also believe that bold, dense veined marbles will
often appear on wall panels, kitchens, and counters to create a striking and
assertive effect in designs.
I believe that in addition to the marble and
natural stone panels used in large sizes, the combinations created by combining
smaller-sized and brass lamas will also take their place in our designs. Mix-match
tiles offer us architects unique design possibilities that can be created with
creative alchemy of materials and techniques.
Combining marble with metal, unique
materials, and the ingenious precision of cutting different types of stone with
a water jet, these mixed material tiles add a personalized expression of
personality and elegance to any design.
Onur Karadeniz
Architect
Onur Karadeniz Mimarlık
I believe that the use of natural
stone material in spaces is important in terms of strengthening the
relationship that the individual establishes with the soil.
In this context, I believe that the use of
natural stone materials in spaces, on the surfaces we feel with our sense of
touch, strengthens the sense of belonging that we establish between the
environment we live in and ourselves.
In the new year, the use of stone in
different textures as a result of different surface treatments can be discussed
more. It will be exciting to talk about the functions of the amorphous and
fractured stones in their natural state as they emerge from the soil. I think
that in 2022, more monolithic and monolithic use of natural stone in spaces
will come to the fore. In this context, I think that furniture will be more
prominent, and bathroom equipment will be preferred in particular. This year,
black, anthracite and gray tones can be preferred more than white and
light-toned marbles.
The use of the same marble with different
textures in the same space, with different surface treatments, will be more
preferred by the architects.
Merih Feza Yıldırım
Architect
Serdar Ulubaş
Architect
Not Mimarlık
In the pre-modern era, almost all of the important works were made of natural stone. For this reason, natural stone has been a material engraved in the minds of architects over the years. Today, although its use is decreasing due to different reasons such as cost and speed, we prefer natural stone in every project when we find the opportunity. It is an indisputable material in terms of the feeling it gives and the effect it creates for us. We think that natural stone will come to the fore with its cost, as in all other building materials, in the new year. In our opinion, it is very important for the sector that all machinery and equipment used to obtain the stone intensively with less labor are domestic productions. In addition, we think that it would be more appropriate for our country to export raw materials by adding design and brand value to the material. It is really exciting to see the natural stone in different forms and designs and to notice the effort and R&D in these subjects. As in every field, we think that designs with personal touches will come to the fore instead of unprocessed or superficial stones used in the new year. In other words, although the scale is small, we think it is possible for these small productions to reach high value-added and high volumes. It means a little bit of personalization, a bit of art. Therefore, we believe that young users will support any kind of production that they can relate to, rather than trends.
Mert Uslu
Architect
Mert Uslu Mimarlık
As one of the oldest materials in history, natural stone, which
has a wide range of uses, still appears in a wide variety of functions today.
Sometimes it is used with innovative and technological methods, and sometimes
it continues to be used with the oldest craftsmanship methods.
At this point, I can say that I value both
methods and prioritize the use of natural stone as a building material. It is
very valuable for me to use the material in its raw and natural state, unlike
artificial applications that are far from the nature of the material itself. In
my opinion, real stone material used both on a structural scale and with
complementary elements is always one step ahead.
The material’s good and beautiful aging
bring timelessness. This strips the material from rapid consumption. If we talk
about temporal continuity, I think natural stone material will always be
valuable not only in 2022 but also years later. However, it is another fact
that the innovative ideas brought to the material will be talked about a little
more every year. Individuals who spent more time at home due to the effect of
the pandemic spent more time on themselves and the places they lived. With the
influence of social media, decorative products or furniture made of stone
became more accessible and much more visible. My opinion; this sector will
continue to increase its currency this year as well. As architectural products
and services become more accessible, users’ prefers begin to change.
The number of people who are far from
imitation, who look forward to qualified and modern architecture is increasing
day by day. In this direction, I think that natural stone, which is one of the
products that can support qualified architecture, will go one step ahead.
I think that more minimal patterns will stand
out rather than complex textures and shiny surfaces in the new year.
Beysun Mert
Architect
Beysun Mert Mimarlık
Natural stones, especially marbles and granites, are the world’s longest-formed art works that cannot be repeated. Stone, which has been one of the leading actors of this adventure since the beginning of man’s construction adventure, has also been the main material of archaeological excavations. Today, we can follow the traces of existence and different life unit scenarios of the Anatolian geography we live in, one of the most important centers of world history, on stone. Stone, which can be used directly by cutting and surface treatments after being taken out of the quarry, is one of the rare materials used as it comes out of nature. Today, with the decrease in reserves and the increase in commodity value, it is used as a coating material in thin sheets. I think that the old glory of the stone with its massive appearance should be strengthened by the skill of the craftsmen. Stone should not be used as a cladding material fifty meters above a building; it should be ensured that future generations can also see these stones. Special marbles and granites, which are known to have less reserves, are used in interior design; I find it more appropriate to use it on flooring, walls, movable furniture, that is, at a touch distance where we can relate to the material and perceive its beauty. Natural stone should be used as a building element in façade, wall and floor coverings within perceptible distance, in public spaces, and in permanent places where we can live with it for a long time, such as pedestrian paths.
My criterion in choosing stone is to make more homogeneous and neutral choices in spaces that will be covered with furniture or other elements. Dynamic stones which are shown themselves can be preferred in places such as hotel lobby, airport, square where it will not become invisible from the furniture on it. Surprising results can be obtained with surface treatments on stones, as in all other materials. By processing the same stone in different processes, surfaces that look so different that they cannot be understood as the same can be obtained. It seems that in 2022, stones in gray tones, which are diversified with surface differentiation, will be widely used.
Fikret Sungay
Architect
Salih Küçüktuna
Architect
PIN Mimarlık
From its unprocessed state in nature to its shape in the hands of
a master, craftsman, or artist; from the block form in the quarry to the final
state that has been processed and applied through industrial production,
natural stone has been one of the most important materials in all fields of
architecture in every period. For us, natural stone is sometimes a facade that
establishes the relationship of a building with the existing settlement,
sometimes a building element that allows it to establish a dialogue with
nature, sometimes all of the elements that create a space with its texture,
color, and feeling, sometimes a border element, and sometimes it is the design
of a building shaped in the hands of a master.
Biophilic design has entered our lives in
many areas, not only as a trend but also as a necessity that shapes design.
Stone, which is a natural material, is an indispensable biophilic design
material in a visual and sensory interaction with its texture, colors and
unique patterns. On the other hand, natural stone design started to define
itself in a very different direction by using the possibilities of technology.
Today, it is possible to use a natural stone in a way or dimensions that have
not been used before by reinforcing it with composite materials. Apart from the
known techniques, textures, dimensions and applications in the processing of
natural stone, from shaping a block stone to surface treatments, an unlimited
field has been opened thanks to computational design, digital production and
robotics. Although it is possible to reach all kinds of natural stones from all
parts of the world on a global scale, we think that 2022 will be a year in
which local stones are used more by highlighting their features. We will see
contemporary designs, products and examples of natural stone produced with new
technologies and customized according to the structure in many areas such as
furniture, wet areas, facade cladding. As PIN, we have the idea of working
with engineers to integrate natural stone into the carrier system and use it in
architecture.
