something old, something new, …

processes & methodsprivate residential
Written By Marco Fazio

From traditional stonemasonry to advanced CNC machinery work

 

Let us introduce you to an old lady, Jenny Lind.

No, this is not the story of the “Swedish nightingale”, the famous opera singer of the XIX century who, allegedly, conquered the heart of P.T. Barnum.

Our Jenny Lind is the oldest machine at stoneCIRCLE, which we still use today for manual slab polishing.

The Jenny Lind is a radial arm manual machine, which needs a skilled mason to operate it. Despite its age we still use it regularly for polishing or honing small cut-to-size pieces.

Jenny Lind radial arm manual machine

 

Denver Vision X automated machine

When it comes to bigger slabs and more complex jobs, we work with second-generation machines, like the Denver Vision X. This automated machine, once set, can polish, hone, brush and apply a few other finishes to the slab by itself. This allows the masons to work on other projects whilst the machine operates.

 

Technological advancement never stops! So the designers’ creativity.

For other advanced work, we prepare a 3D model on the computer, which then talks directly with our five-axis OMAG machine. This uses saw blades, drills and diamond-coated routers to mill and shape a block of stone in all directions. For some pieces we program the machine to work unattended all night which speeds up the delivery time.

 

See this work in progress, Course and Flow, an artwork by Rachael Champion on the Omag 5-axis CNC…

3D graphics courtesy of OMAG SpA

‘Course and Flow’ by Rachael Champion on the OMAG five-axis machine

 

Here are some examples of works we have produced on our Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines.

Although our state-of-the-art technology and CNC machinery can fulfil any advanced design requirement, we never forget the importance of traditional stonemasonry skills. The machines free up the masons to finish the pieces by hand.

Thanks to our investments in stone processing technology and our team of skilled masons no job is too big or too small for us.

Marco Fazio

Marco Joe Fazio is CCO and director of photography at space+style™ by marco joe fazio Ltd, working in fashion, hospitality, food & drink, architecture and design.

Born and raised in Tuscany, Italy, Marco learned the rudiments of photography and the magic of the darkroom in his early school years. Thereafter, he worked in architecture, interior, and lighting design for two decades. During those years, Marco founded an award-winning architectural studio and managed a multidisciplinary design team, working mainly for fashion industry clients.

Since moving to London in 2008, Marco has been recognised as a Chartered Architect of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) while pursuing his dream of connecting the worlds of architecture, design, and fashion from the photographer's perspective.

After years of passionate dedication, hard work and professional achievements, he was awarded the Fellowship certification (FBIPP) by the British Institute of Professional Photography and won the Peter Grugeon Award for the Best Fellowship of the Year in 2016. Subsequently, he has been admitted as a member of the highly regarded Association of Photographers (AOP). 

Having achieved a stronghold in coordinated image and photography for the design and fashion world, Marco has taken his expertise into the hospitality market; luxury and boutique hotels, fine dining restaurants, and the drinks and beverage industry are all reaping benefits from his services.

Today, Marco is leading his agency in assignments in the hospitality, fashion, and design industries.

Creative photography, cinematography, coordinated images and brand marketing form the core of his services.

Thanks to more than a decade in the music industry, Marco has expendable knowledge in composition and sound engineering. That knowledge is a valuable asset in creating licensed soundtracks and magnetic sound designs for commercial productions.

Marco's passion and another branch of his business are mentoring and nurturing new visual arts talents. In 2016, he launched "telling [fashion] stories" – photography & set design workshops – and more recently, he has become a lecturer for the School of Art and Creative Industries at London South Bank University (LSBU).

The crossover between genres and industries is a peculiar and essential factor in his work, contributing to thinking outside the box and achieving a unique style rich in symbolism and content.

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