February 16th, 2012
Building Materials: Stone
Author: Justin
Stone is the most solid and enduring material we build with. It appears to be embedded in the psyche of humankind. We love to see it, climb on it, mark boundaries and build with it. Precious, more delicate stones we use for adornment. It can be beautiful, tactile, and infinitely cut, sculpted and shaped.
Here at Lloyd Architects, we have recently had the opportunity to examine stone again in a few house designs. We’re not talking about granite counter tops and tile floors. Our clients want to see stone used more broadly in the visual and performing functions of the construction and connection to the landscape. In some cases, we use stone found on site. So we are in the fortunate position of being able to explore using stone and what that means in terms of potential and the processes involved, from quarrying to craftspeople.
Stone was perhaps the first object utilized to construct shelter and to mark important ideas. At sites around the world, the greatest buildings and monuments have been built of stone, creating a lasting legacy. The organization of human force and ingenuity have been summoned to extract, transport and build with this most ancient of materials throughout millennia.
As far as building materials go, few are as versatile, durable, strong or distinctive as stone. All stone, however, is not created equally. Some is softer and perhaps more porous than others, lending itself to impermanence. Largely though, stone is the longest lasting natural material we build with, and readily available just about everywhere.We look forward to more projects that create this type of connection to our identity, past and future. And while we have a variety of materials available today, we will always continue to use stone.












2. Lloyd Architects headed to Seattle for its first ever full office retreat in April. For the Lloyd Architect team, this was more than a chance to see some buildings and catch a Mariners game. Aaron, Justin and Tom each selected a notable building type which we sketched, photographed or analyzed, (and we did spend a chilly evening at Safeco field).We also had a great visit with Bob Hull and David Miller at the office of 

We did have our own design charette for a high bank waterfront patio with our hosts out at Richmond Beach. Many thanks to Rick & Julie Stevenson!
and where Jennie & I logged a number of miles walking the city, noting neighborhood patterns and streetscapes of the Garden District. In December we were in Phoenix at
We had a little fun this holiday season with a residential design challenge on a smaller scale than most of our projects. How hard would it be to make a bunch of gingerbread houses and get a few families together for an evening of decorating?

Warren sketched two designs for the gingerbread house project, one modern and the other traditional, both designs based loosely on current projects on the boards. Rebecca made some models and then we got busy baking and building. We learned a lot about gingerbread houses in the process and could write a pretty comprehensive list of dos and don’ts. Suffice it to say that we got much more efficient with experience.



We loved the creative uses of materials. (Note the different uses of dried pineapple rings alone.) Do these qualify as eye candy?














I really appreciated the restraint of the front design; there were so many “aha” moments as we toured the home, from the canyon-like climb up the stairs to the crow’s nest on top of the house.The house was full of nooks and cozy spaces designed on a human scale. The homeowners love to entertain and it was apparent that this home is a cherished gathering spot for friends and family. Our photos only begin to capture some of the color and detail of the home. Visit Will Bruder’s
One recurring theme in recent years at conferences sponsored by the American Institute of Architects is the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, a smart approach to construction both for its green elements and the preservation of history. Warren has worked on a number of these preservation projects in Salt Lake City. The first such project, 








In 2008 Warren launched one of our most ambitious remodeling projects ever, that of our own office building. As his wife, to say I was a little concerned would be a bit of an understatement, but happily his vision won over my worries (be sure to scroll down to see the “after” photo). The most recent issue of 


Another helpful resource to those considering a remodel is a publication put out by the Utah Heritage Foundation.
Ornate lion heads now blackened and worn look down on me from several stories above. An old water tower watches over the area from the top a building. It makes me feel like I have stepped back to the turn of the 19th century. New graffiti battles for room with old advertisements painted on the sides of the aged brick exterior walls and I wonder what the future is for such an interesting place. 
When I moved to the Salt Lake Valley four years ago I noticed, as many visitors do from the East Coast, that Salt Lake is an exceptionally well manicured place. This, of course, makes the area an attractive, comfortable place to live. However, being accustomed to seeing factories, trains, and various modes of infrastructure intersecting, sometimes presumptuously, with homes and businesses, I wondered where all that stuff was kept in Utah. I discovered a path through the infrastructure I was seeking and an invigorating architectural experience by commuting on Trax. 





In April, Warren was invited to speak at a local gathering that was part of a global event, 
