The expert stonework required for a grand, French provincial new build

When Peter Diprose was engaged as the architect of a sprawling project in Riverhead that envisioned a grand, French provincial architectural style, there were several elements of the plans that were less than straightforward, and required specialist attention and expertise.

With one look at the exterior of the home, it will become quickly apparent that one of these elements was the stonework. The brief called for thick, structural stone cladding – not thin veneer stone, but a sturdy material that would suit the ambitious build, fit the overall quality of the home and last the test of time.

Peter wasted no time getting in contact with Len Lavas, the managing director of Auckland Stonemasons. It’s no exaggeration to say that Len and his team are true experts in their field and are at the top of the industry in Auckland and beyond: the company has built its expertise from decades of iconic projects, like Auckland's Tamaki Drive sea walls built in the late 1920s, to Cornwall Park, to many other residential and public buildings, monuments and walls throughout the country.

Fast forward to around 2018, and it was time for another iconic project. Auckland Stonemasons came on board to the Riverhead project, a year before construction was to begin – during which time Len consulted with the architect on the overall plans. The following year, the exterior of the home began in earnest.

“We had a lot of time with the architect going over the plan with the stone, and it was decided that the stones shouldn’t be cut too straight or too tight,” says Len. “We wanted it to look imperfect, a little bit rustic, because it adds a lot more character.”

While a lot of Auckland Stonemasons’ work in the public sphere – like in seawalls – is precise and uniform, the company also has extensive experience in this kind of work too.

“In most residential cases, we try to keep to this ‘imperfect’ theme,” Len says. “If you don’t cut the stones straight, but rather cut them a bit more crooked, you get a lot more shadow, and it looks a lot better.”

Regarding the stone itself, Len says it was important to get the look and feel right, as well providing the right material to support the structure. An imported desert sand granite was the stone of choice for the reveal throughout the doors and windows; for the rest of the stonework, Te Kuiti limestone was used.

“The architect wanted a creamy sort of limestone for that Mediterranean, sun-drenched look,” says Len. “It’s a really hard stone from the Te Kuiti lime quarry. Most of the limestone from this quarry is softer – but this particular one is the capping rock, and we bring in and use our own diggers to the quarry and source it ourselves.

“It’s a beautiful stone – great for any exterior cladding, and for retaining walls too.”

Though the Riverhead project was large in scope, this didn’t necessarily translate into greater difficulty for Auckland Stonemasons. It’s the minute detailing that can make working with stone a tricky endeavour; but for this house, the details weren’t as important as the overall look.

“It was large, but there weren’t too many details,” Len says. “The bigger sections had large panels, which are a lot faster and easier to install than smaller panels. There were a large number of corners, which requires more finesse, but there were big spaces between the corners.”

Overall, Len says, the project was a huge success, and the areas that Auckland Stonemasons were involved in went without a hitch. For Len, there were two primary highlights of the build: seeing the final product, and his easy collaboration with other stakeholders – particularly the architect.

“It really makes a difference if we can talk to the architect before they finish the plans. A lot of the time, if plans are made without consulting stone experts, the plans don’t work and the house can’t be built. But luckily we had a great relationship with the architect, so that wasn’t an issue.”

And when he was asked to see the finished project, months after Auckland Stonemasons had finished their work on it, Len jumped at the opportunity.

“It was great to go back there,” says Len. “It looked awesome. The gardens have grown, the place is looking beautiful – just like a French provincial home, so the brief was nailed!”

Learn more about Auckland Stonemasons and their products and services at stonemasons.co.nz