Award

Glacier Slate, Cornerstone, and Dominion pavers from Mutual Materials. S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 | 51 Masonry P H OTO G R A P H Y BY B R I A N WO O DW I C K /CO U RT E S Y M U T UA L M AT ER I A L S Masonry has an even wider range of materials and textures to match every taste by ROBIN BRUNET T he trend of focusing on the street appeal of one's property, whether residential or commercial, intensified during two years of lockdowns. Thankfully that focus is stronger than ever in 2022, with do-it-yourselfers and professionals mixing mate- rials and textures to make structures stand out. Traditional designs and colours are making a comeback, and sustainabil- ity is becoming more important than ever – and materials like brick, stone, and slate are helping to curate these trends. Additionally, the term "biophilic design" is increasingly being bandied about this year with regards to masonry. This type of design mirrors natural shapes and patterns, including geometric shapes like circles and spirals: most evident in paver patterns and circular fire pit installations. Vito Lore, Canadian sales manager at Mutual Materials, notes that, "Demand is really strong for brick and masonry on new build construction. In terms of colour palette, while designers are still looking for whites and blacks, job specifi- cations are increasingly calling for a more earth tone range." Mutual Materials and its clients also seem to be coping with supply chain issues. "Everyone is adapting," Lore says. "Orders are being placed well in advance, lead times are far longer, and our customers understand that. Fortunately demand remains robust: owners want their properties to look good regardless." Mutual Materials is a strong advocate of eclecticism in material and texture usage in the same space, for a one of a kind look. For example, outdoor spaces can be paved with a combination of stone, brick, and concrete, which also serves to separate functional living areas. Even pavers can be mixed to create a con- trasting look: for example the combination of TurfStone and Dominion Pavers in one outdoor space. Lore's company also suggests combining the use of Slimbrick with one of its Stone Retaining Walls or Clay Pavers, to create a striking mixed material appearance (Slimbrick's thin design and variety of finishes can be used on the interior and exterior of any building, from accent walls and kitchen backsplashes to bathroom tiling and veneer). Canada Brick (formerly Meridian Brick) was launched with General Shale's purchase of Meridian, and it now joins Arriscraft (the stone products group of General Shale) in Canadian operations, serving the market with three manu- facturing plants in Ontario. Canada Brick's extensive product offerings are accompanied by advice to designers and developers, case in point: while stating that painted brick is a relatively simple and effective way to update appearances, the company stresses the use of paints and lime washes designed specifically for masonry that has breathability characteristics: "One phenomenal exterior masonry product is called Romabio. The long-lasting paint won't peel or flake off, has high-U V resistance, and is naturally mould-resistant." Also, "There's another surprising thing people can do with this product: using the textured paint on textured brick causes it to appear smoother." The use of different Canada Brick products on a single project can lead to spectacular results: for the latest renovation of Montreal's Saint-Noël-Chabanel School, three different shades of brown Canada Brick (Copper Matt, Sierra Sandstone Smooth, and Sundance Matt) created a unique exterior diamond pattern that mimicked the playful colours and shapes of the interior of the facility. The effect of the pattern was further enhanced with colourful glazed brick insets. Because the school resides in an area where several cultures meld together, yellow, red, and blue brick represent the cultural diversity of the neighbourhood. As for function, the diamond pattern of the brick also serves as an interactive wall and a target for ball games. Arriscraft has, for more than 70 years, manufactured high-performance stone using only natural materials, and today offers a broad selection of both traditional and modern stone styles, plus an array of distinct finishes and natural colours to please any designer. Arriscraft's calcium silicate stone looks, performs, and feels like quarried stone, due to a unique manufacturing process that mimics how stone is formed in the earth. Marta Zonneveld, marketing manager at Arriscraft, points out that due to the strong housing and renovation markets going into the pandemic, "We were fortunate to have our busiest month ever in March of 2020. More than two years later, we continue to respond to strong demand throughout North America, for both residential and commercial projects." Particularly sought from Arriscraft is the company's Architectural Linear Series Brick (ALSB), introduced in 2018 to fill a gap in the market for a distinct long brick only available from Europe. This linear brick has a unique weathered finish that is aesthetically desirable and also installs quickly due to its size. This calcium silicate brick features the same fine grain texture as its other manufac- tured stone products, which makes this distressed finish possible. Zonneveld points out that in addition to exhibiting this incredible aesthetic, "our calcium silicate brick provides lifetime performance and doesn't fade or dis- colour." ALSB was recently used by Gensler to lend a striking exterior appearance to the Georgetown Day School project in Washington D.C. and is also featured on several high-end residences in New York City, including Beckford House & Tower (Studio Sofield) on the Upper East Side and 111 LeRoy Street in the West Village. ART in ARCHITECTURE

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