For Greenburg, a posh apartment complex set on one of India's lush golf courses in Gurugram, Haryanaa, sustainability and affordability were at the heart of the design. Local stone was preferred for the building's exterior satisfying aesthetic, as well as performance requirements.

Pokarna, a leader among stone producers in India, recently opened its Cream Cashmere granite quarry in Buduruvada Village, Parvathipuram Mandal, Vizianagaram District, Andhra Pradesh, India. The almost 25-acre site currently produces three shades/patterns of the material.

With a history dating back to 1928, the family-run business of Chester A. Smith, Inc. is steeped in history. The company, along with eight others, was a founding member of the Marble Institute of America (MIA) when it was formed in 1944 and today is listed as “Member #7” in the MIA Directory.

New stone varieties continue to be quarried in India. The following are only several of the many new products now available.

In 1988, Stone World presented its first Fabricator of the Year Award to Jim Stengel of Dakota Granite Co. Since then, there's been one worthy fabricator after another honored each year with the award. Most recently, Scott Hanes of Majestic Marble & Granite in Orlando, FL was the recipient.

The Helios Seven by Helios Automazioni is a machining center of the latest generation, developed to answer the requests of the most demanding stone fabricators doing countertop production and monument building.

The Pinnacle Awards, presented annually by MIA+BSI: The Natural Stone Institute during The International Surface Event (TISE) in Las Vegas, NV, recognize excellence in commercial, residential and renovation/restoration of natural stone projects worldwide.

A villa made up of two residential units, a 54,000-square-foot park, and a view a beautiful beach on the coast of Sardinia, Italy, the design team at GAAP Studio was tasked to transform the space into a "family home" maintaining a smooth transition between interior and exterior areas.

Established in 1992 and located along the east side of Lake Michigan in the city of Muskegon, Lakeside Surfaces is one of the largest fabricators of surfacing products in the Midwest. The company was founded by its current president, Rob Riegler.

While times change and trends come and go, natural stone remains a popular choice in both residential and commercial design. Stone World recently had the opportunity to talk with a few experienced architects to ask their opinion on a range of issues related to designing with natural stone.