180 LAYERS OF STONE
"180 Layers of Stone," as the name suggests, consists of approximately 180 sheets of various types of stone accompanied by their most commonly used finishes. Ranging from stones with creamier tones – examples being NMN and NMC – to more bluish or grayish ones – like NLG and NMZ – and even limestone with more prominent veins and crystals – NBA and NAP – together they form this unique structure. Throughout its composition, by combining these layers of natural stone, emerges the Natstone logo which, in a way, symbolizes our history and how we originated within the Estremenho Limestone Massif, as if each piece symbolizes a historical landmark. Since its inception, Natstone has been concerned with the notoriety of Portuguese natural stone and its immense potential, particularly in its transformation and application across various design and architectural fields. We often reflect on how a material so massive, colossal, and primitive can become something so fragile, sensitive, and consequently, interesting. Limestone embodies these particularities. No composition is exactly the same, whether it's a material that presents more or less grain, fossils, and in certain cases, veins and crystals. And that is extraordinary.
The project execution consists of several stages. Initially, we create a 3D mock-up of the structure, subdivided into 180 unique pieces with applied textures to scale. Each of these pieces is custom machined using CNC milling machines, which are then directed to the manual finishing section. Among these manual finishes, we highlight brushing, honing, polishing, softening, and sandblasting. It was with this inspirational foundation that we conceived a concept that demonstrates to humans what natural stone truly is, and how its irregularity becomes such a peculiar and interesting form of art. Essentially, we explored a concept to showcase a greater variety of natural limestone, with different tones, irregular grain and veins, and all their potential finishes.
Since its inception, Natstone has been concerned with the notoriety of Portuguese natural stone and its immense potential, particularly in its transformation and application across various design and architectural fields. We often reflect on how a material so massive, colossal, and primitive can become something so fragile, sensitive, and consequently, interesting. Limestone embodies these particularities. No composition is exactly the same, whether it's a material that presents more or less grain, fossils, and in certain cases, veins and crystals. And that is extraordinary.
