A good stone is chosen at the quarry, not from a catalogue. We walk the benches with the stonemasons and look at the faces that have just been opened, while the colour is still true.

Cut less

The most useful thing a mason told us is that every cut is a decision you cannot undo. The less you cut, the more the stone keeps of what it was. We now draw our layouts around the blocks we have, rather than ordering blocks to match the layout.

It changes how a building is detailed. Joints follow the natural bed of the stone. Offcuts become steps, thresholds and benches. Very little is wasted, and the result feels calmer.

Draw around the stone you have.