.png)
Working with natural stone is a humbling task. It implies searching the world for the perfect quarries, being in contact with the wonders and hardships of nature, and leveraging the best of human inventiveness to shape a particularly stubborn material. But mostly, it is humbling because it makes us acknowledge our finitude. The stones we work with were formed thousands of years before our grandparents were born, and will probably still be there after our grandchildren meet their grandchildren. Natural stones have been essential for human habitats since the very first cities were built: They have evolved with us. Stones are part of our history and, like everything else in history, have been differently used and valued across the ages.
Travertine is a noteworthy example. It is the product of several centuries of underwater sedimentation, only found in a handful of countries around the world: Italy, Mexico, Iran, Peru, and Turkey. Its organic textures display a raw elegance that has been cherished by different cultures and generations. While some decades have neglected the use of travertine and favored other materials, the versatility of this marble always brings it back into fashion. This is not only due to its visual appeal, but also to its physical endurance: Travertine is both an elegant and a resistant material.
It is precisely this versatility that lies behind the diverse uses of travertine. If you have been lucky enough to visit Rome, you might have noticed how a significant part of its public buildings and monuments are made of it. You can also find it in many of Mexico City’s traditional restaurants and its emblematic Jumex Museum, as well as in several houses from the 70s around the globe. After a few decades of laying low, this coral-like stone made a comeback, making it one of the most sought-after marbles in the world. One of the most representative symbols of this new trend is the Six Senses Hotel in Rome, designed by the renowned architect Patricia Urquiola.
Among the most characteristic features of travertine, its porous texture is arguably the most influential for construction matters. The porosity makes it an ideal material for hot weather or for any project exposed to humidity, such as poolside structures. It also makes it a great choice for facades, for the stone maintains its sober elegance better than many other more delicate materials. Nevertheless, there is a controversy about how to deal with the porosity of travertine. Some architects cover the pores with epoxy resin to get a more resistant material, while others prefer to respect the stone’s natural texture. In the end, it is a matter of taste, but we believe that it’s always important to balance practicality with aesthetics.
After millennia of human evolution, travertine has proven to be a timeless material. Its sober color pallet, high homogeneity, organic elegance, and excellent endurance make it a great choice for a wide range of projects, from solid public facades to delicate, luxurious bathtubs. Although our twenty years working with it seem like an instant compared to the thousands of years these stones have seen before them, we are confident to say that we know what we are talking about when we say that, while trends may always come and go, some stones are meant to withstand the passage of time and all its vogues. Travertine is one of them.
Talk to an expert
