Lava stone provides an Italian touch for Russian Bank
According to Project Architect Peter Papadatos of Papadatos Partnership LLP, the overall goal of the project was to create a long-lasting building with a solid image. He considered using porcelain tiles for the bank; however, budget allowed for the use of a more elegant stone, which is why he chose Basaltina, a grayish volcanic stone from Italy. “I first came across Basaltina in Bern, Switzerland, during a renovation of my local bank, UBS (Union Bank of Switzerland),†said Papadatos. “I contacted the local architect regarding the stone that was being installed, and he directed me to the local stone supplier. The stone had a remarkable ability to keep a clean appearance, even in the snow and salt in Bern.â€
More than 3,000 square feet of lava stone -- quarried in Latium, a province of Rome -- was supplied by Conti & Conti from Russia, and some specially coordinated pieces were used for the counters and windows. Papadatos felt that the durability of the volcanic stone would be a good asset to the Garanti Bank project, since Moscow has such harsh weather conditions. “This is due in part to the climate, the constant construction in the city which creates much dust, the sand and salt that is spread during the winter months from November to April, and the poor maintenance of most properties,†he said. “Typical floor maintenance is handled by a [worker] with a bucket full of dirty water and a dirty mop, spreading the dirt and grime all over instead of cleaning.†He added that this lackadaisical process occurs because of cultural reasons, budgets and the lack of qualified cleaning maintenance companies.