BEFORE THE ARCHITECT – BLUEPRINT HOME DESIGN CONSULTANTS

TUSCANY HOME DESIGNS

TUSCANY STONE AND TUSCANY BRICK, Exterior 

·         Tuscany stone

o        Varied limestone and fine-grained sandstone Tuscany stone predominate on the exterior

o        Varied marble Tuscany stone predominates on the interior

§          Including many beyond Carrara and beyond Tuscany itself

o        Rough-dressed (at most)

o        Undressed

§          As fieldstone

§          As rubble 

·         Tuscany stone

o        May be wet- or dry-stack [yes, even brickwork can apparently be dry-stack]

§          If wet-stack, then rough-spread, trowled mortar, neatness does not count

o        May include brick in whole as in-fill or in bits as chinks

o        Tuscany stone reveals are essentially

§          Highly regulated

§          Approaching planar section in elevation

§          Irregular

Ø       Faces

Ø       Sizes

Ø       Shapes

o        Tuscany brick features and elements may be associated cheek-by-jowl – formed for a pattern, trace of bygones, or at random – with stonework 

·         Tuscany stonewall – perimeters and site walls

o        (At least at) perimeters need be thick

§          Targeting a minimum of 20LI for characteristically bulked appearance

Ø       Deep-set windows

Ø       Interiors alcoves

Ø       Seating

Ø       Interesting home light-shadow castings

Ø       Stone-framed or brick framed (or both) fenestration 

Even in Italy, the use of stone as a construction material isn’t always possible.  Residential contractors often suggest a faster way of building, using hollow clay brick faced by a veneer of stone.  The bricks are standard size (10 by 20, or 12 by 24 inches, 25x50 or 30x60 cm) and are set upon a foundation.  [Indeed, the entirety of the thickened wall is set up a foundation.]  The stone facing is applied to the exterior in a layer of one row of stones and attached every few feet to the brick wall through a series of metal ties.  The wall then consists of a row of bricks just under a foot thick and a row of stones not less than 10 inches (25 cm) thick.  This final wall measure about 20 to 24 inches (50-60 cm) thick.  [The interiors and exteriors of walls are thereafter finished to style.]  Italian Rustic:  How To Bring Tuscan Charm Into Your Home by E. H. Minchilli, Artisan, 2009, p.9 

Comment:  Perhaps x 10s alone or offset x 6’s with finish clad in faux stone and brick would do in lieu? 

Comment:  Designwise, there are few wall moments in their layouts more distinctive of age than the bricked-in or, more usually referenced, as bricked-up, or blind, window or door or stair portion or arch or what-all, in shadowy or significant relief or recess.  The presentation should make some, though not necessarily complete, sense by size and site.  Same goes for pilasters revealed a little or a lot.  To the extent that exterior style masonry can be brought to the interiors – by fact of similar material and method and observable or apparent depth – it can double-up in distinction. 

·         Abundance of dressed stone as quoins in both building wall corners and site wall corners and termini

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