Green Marble Fireplace

A fireplace is the living room's single focal piece. In this surround the brown and copper veins of the green marble form a continuous movement across both the body and the stepped hearth; because the pieces were prepared from consecutive cuts of the same block, the vein is not severed at the joints but continues onto the adjoining face.

The appearance of thick mass was achieved with mitred (45 degree) joints: when two slabs are bonded at 45 degrees in the corner, the result reads from outside as a single thick piece of stone while being hollow inside. Because this method reduces weight it makes both handling and installation easier. Making the joint line invisible is the hardest part of the workmanship; the joint is filled with coloured epoxy carrying the stone's own dust.

Heat behaviour is also taken into account. Marble withstands heat, but rather than direct contact between the firebox and the stone, the clearance and insulation specified by the manufacturer must be left; that clearance is critical so sudden temperature differences do not build stress in the stone.

The stepped hearth also serves as a seating surface, so its front edge was softened with a radius.