Stone as a structural material. Part 4: Contemporary loadbearing stone buildings

Not all contemporary innovation is about exploiting digital fabrication or creating wild new forms. By applying a new way of thinking to traditional materials and craft, geometrically simple and innovative structures can be realised that are both elegant and environmentally ethical. Webb Yates, in conjunction with The Stonemasonry Company, has begun to develop a building system that would be a low-energy alternative to more common steel and concrete-framed structures. In this article, we hope to demonstrate how a creative approach to engineering design can utilise stone to exploit its inherent strengths.