The use of thin slabs of stone that have been polished to display their natural patterns began well before modern building technology. Roman architecture showed off the translucent nature of super thinly cut stone in window openings to allow light into the space. This practice is still used today, and backlit stones can be seen in building lobbies, furniture and as feature walls.

ViviStone. Designed by VividGlass for Forms+Surfaces

Stone quarrying is far from a sustainable, eco-friendly practice although companies like Stone Source are working to make themselves more sustainable through the development of new materials. Forms+Surfaces appreciates that stone is a beautiful element that society demands, and brings a version to us that is slightly more sustainable.

VividGlass is a Forms+Surfaces company that produces ViviStone. ViviStone is a glass material that imitates the look of natural, translucent stone. I don’t generally commend faking materials, but ViviStone achieves the look and feel of thinly cut natural stone with the ease of glass.

The product works much the way products like 3form are created. A graphic interlayer is placed between layers of glass, which both adds depth and protects the graphic pattern from damage. ViviStone comes in Reflect and View, which cater to single or double sided applications. As an added bonus, the four “stone” patterns of Vivistone can be used in exterior and interior applications.

About the Company: VividGlass is an innovator in the design and manufacture of specialty architectural glass. The company is 15 years old, and was acquired by Forms+Surfaces in 2009. Since then, VividGlass has been able to expand globally with locations in the US, Middle East, Asia and India. Forms+Surfaces has an Environmental Management System that is working to cut landfill waste, energy use and emissions to offset the environmental impact of manufacturing glass.