In recent years, natural stone has again figured in the design of new buildings in Scotland, and interest has been renewed in the range and characteristics of the resources available from Scottish quarries. Prominent public projects such as the Museum of Scotland and the Scottish Parliament have established themselves as contemporary architectural showpieces for the enduring and distinctive qualities of indigenous stone, and throughout the country many other examples can be found of architects, contractors and developers re-exploring the potential of locally-sourced materials. Along with this new interest has come a demand for better information on the different types of Scottish stones available and for guidance on how to use these materials well.

Building with Scottish Stone aims to encourage more use of stone sourced from Scotland’s working quarries and to provide a better understanding of those mineralogical properties which give each stone its distinctive quality. The nation’s architectural history is synonymous with the use of natural stone, and the principles of construction developed over generations in response to Scotland’s particular climatic conditions still find relevance today in the design and detailing of new buildings. Equally, an understanding of the ways in which stone is extracted and processed is as fundamental to its contemporary use as having up-to-date knowledge of the continuously changing legislation that affects its specification and procurement.

Building with Scottish Stone is a stimulating introduction to these and many other factors to be considered when using this richly-varied and timeless resource in the design of new buildings.

Produced by the Natural Stone Institute, Building with Scottish Stone was made possible by many funders, supporters and contributors and our thanks go to all of them for their generous support.