something old, something new, …

processes & methods
Written By Marco Fazio

From traditional stonemasonry to advanced CNC machinery work

 

Let us introduce you to an old lady, Jenny Lind.

No, this is not the story of the “Swedish nightingale”, the famous opera singer of the XIX century who, allegedly, conquered the heart of P.T. Barnum.

Our Jenny Lind is the oldest machine at stoneCIRCLE, which we still use today for manual slab polishing.

The Jenny Lind is a radial arm manual machine, which needs a skilled mason to operate it. Despite its age we still use it regularly for polishing or honing small cut-to-size pieces.

Jenny Lind radial arm manual machine

 

Denver Vision X automated machine

When it comes to bigger slabs and more complex jobs, we work with second-generation machines, like the Denver Vision X. This automated machine, once set, can polish, hone, brush and apply a few other finishes to the slab by itself. This allows the masons to work on other projects whilst the machine operates.

 

Technological advancement never stops! So the designers’ creativity.

For other advanced work, we prepare a 3D model on the computer, which then talks directly with our five-axis OMAG machine. This uses saw blades, drills and diamond-coated routers to mill and shape a block of stone in all directions. For some pieces we program the machine to work unattended all night which speeds up the delivery time.

 

See this work in progress, Course and Flow, an artwork by Rachael Champion on the Omag 5-axis CNC…

3D graphics courtesy of OMAG SpA

‘Course and Flow’ by Rachael Champion on the OMAG five-axis machine

 

Here are some examples of works we have produced on our Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines.

Although our state-of-the-art technology and CNC machinery can fulfil any advanced design requirement, we never forget the importance of traditional stonemasonry skills. The machines free up the masons to finish the pieces by hand.

Thanks to our investments in stone processing technology and our team of skilled masons no job is too big or too small for us.

Marco Fazio

Marco Joe Fazio is Chief Creative Officer and Director of Photography at space+style™ by Marco Joe Fazio Ltd, where he leads visual storytelling, photography, cinematography and content strategy for clients across hospitality, food & drink, fashion, architecture and design.

Born and raised in Tuscany, Italy, Marco discovered photography at an early age through traditional film and darkroom printing. Before becoming a full-time photographer, he spent two decades working in architecture, interior architecture and lighting design, founding an award-winning practice and leading multidisciplinary teams on projects for international fashion brands.

After moving to London in 2008, Marco became a Chartered Architect with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), combining his architectural background with a distinctive photographic approach that connects people, spaces and brands through visual storytelling.

His work has been recognised with the Fellowship of the British Institute of Professional Photography (FBIPP), together with the prestigious Peter Grugeon Award for Best Fellowship of the Year in 2016. He is also a member of the Association of Photographers (AOP).

Today, Marco specialises in creating strategic visual content for luxury hospitality, boutique hotels, restaurants, drinks brands, interior designers and manufacturers. His work combines commercial photography, cinematography and brand storytelling to help businesses communicate their expertise, craftsmanship and identity through compelling visual narratives.

Alongside his visual practice, Marco brings more than a decade of experience in music composition and sound engineering, enabling him to create bespoke soundtracks and immersive sound design that complement his film productions.

Education and mentoring remain central to his professional practice. He founded the telling [fashion] stories workshop series and lectures in photography and visual communication at London South Bank University (LSBU), supporting the next generation of creative professionals.

The combination of architecture, photography, filmmaking and music gives Marco a distinctive multidisciplinary perspective, allowing him to create work that is visually refined, emotionally engaging and strategically aligned with each client's brand.

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