Photos by Johan Kalén
Formed over more than 250 million years ago and extracted from the Alps in the Swiss village of Vals, the fine veined appearance of Vals Quartzite makes it an aesthetically appealing choice among architects and designers. However, its hard, layered composition renders it difficult to work with and until now few, if any, have used the stone to create bathtubs from a solid block. This was the challenge designer Jonas Lindvall faced when designing a bathroom installation for his current exhibition: Jonas Lindvall - Arkitektur, Inredning, Design at Landskrona Konsthall.
The bathtub, which measures 73cm wide x 173cm long x 57cm high with 5cm thick sides, was carved from a solid block of stone, which weighed almost five tons prior to its transformation. Cut vertically to create a line pattern, the slate-like composition of the stone made it extremely difficult to cut. Formed in layers, the mixture of crystals found within the stone imbue it with an incredible strength and the varying nature of the composites can be a challenge even for diamonds which are commonly used for cutting such hard materials. The matching wall-hung washbasin was also created from one solid stone block, and measures 152cm long x 30cm wide x 30cm deep. It is attached to a quartz clad wall using three steel consoles, embedded within the structure.
Says the designer “I chose Vals Quartzite primarily for its expressive quality and its natural beauty. I often work with marble, which is a lot softer and more pliant, so the hard, unyielding quality of the stone was quite a challenge. In fact the solid stone bathtub was, apparently, a first for Truffer AG, and StoneCon, who supplied the Vals Quartzite for the project. Thanks to the skill and diligence of stonemason Rob Krieger of Henkelstorps Natursten, we have created a real showpiece of a bathroom; something that exemplifies the raw beauty of nature and the strength of organic materials.”
About Truffer AG Vals
Truffer AG is the leading Swiss company in the extraction and processing of high-quality natural stone. More than half of its finished stone is exported to some 30 countries worldwide. Truffer AG is represented by StoneCon in Scandinavia.
www.truffer.ch/www.stonecon.dk
About Henkelstorps Natursten
Based in Löddeköping in southern Sweden, Henkelstorps Natursten works with artists and architects to create art, architectural details and interior design pieces for both private clients and public spaces.
http://natursten.henkelstorp.se