From the most primitive to the most contemporary of times -- wherever
stones are found they have been used as building materials. The
sense of permanence and solidity created by stones in the landscape is
instantly recognizable. When integrating stone work into the
landscape extreme care is given to selecting the appropriate type,
scale and level of detail that goes into the constructed elements they
comprise.
One of the principal uses for stone is for walls both decorative and
structurally necessary to achieve design goals. Walls
replace slopes that would otherwise take up space, maximizing usable
space either above or below the wall.
Other uses for walls include: protection, containment of
spaces, aesthetic interest, direction of pedestrian flows or views,
security, screening, contain or lessen a slope, as a design
counterpoint to softer landscape elements… The justification and design
uses for walls are almost infinite.
 Steps are also a very significant aspect of a landscape,
fulfilling the obvious purpose of providing access from one level to
another. Depending on their design steps are either a smooth
transition or a physical obstruction between spaces.
Steps direct pedestrian flow through a space like almost no
other landscape element. Typically they act to gather people and
direct flow from one space to another. At times, if the designer
chooses, they can provide the only point of access to an area.
This gives the designer the ability to introduce a space in a specific
way or simply direct views. Whether planned or spontaneous, they
are often used as informal seating. Finally their design and
installation are extremely important in "grounding"-- connecting
buildings to the landscape both functionally and aesthetically.
The majority of the walls and steps we build are made out of some
combination of stone. The classic material never goes out of
style, is extremely durable, and can be tooled to exacting standards.
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