In designing the Cribbs Causeway shopping mall in Bristol, England, Tait Design sought to use materials that would convey a high-quality image, but would also withstand the demanding conditions of a busy retail center. Ultimately, both needs were satisfied with a thoughtful blend of domestic slate and German limestone.

Kirkstone, specialists in natural slate, provided 800 square feet of its Silver Green slate floor tiles for the project, and the material features a honed surface finish. Additionally, the company supplied 11,000 square feet of its Bavarian Beige/Grey imported products for the central floor area, and it was cut to an elliptical finish.

Kirkstone also provided cut stone for 26 profiled supports for additional bench seating to match the finish of its flooring tiles. The complex patterns achieved in natural stone were specified in order to complement the other high-end architectural finishes, including brushed steel, timber and glazing.

The natural and unique characteristics of the Silver Green slate and Bavarian limestone products created a striking and contemporary concourse that is durable enough to cope with heavy foot traffic.

“Having worked together on a number of schemes, we had confidence in the performance of Kirkstone’s products,” said Jonathan Everitt, Senior Designer at Tait Design. “The natural and contemporary characteristics - combined with the hard-wearing nature of the floor tiles - made the slate and limestone products a reliable choice for the project, and we’re very pleased with the results that have been achieved.”

“Our range of natural slate and imported stone products adds a unique touch to the interior or exterior of any project, and we’re delighted with the results at Cribbs Causeway,” said Nick Fecitt, Managing Director at Kirkstone. “The strong natural markings and broad range of shading of our Silver Green product is offset beautifully by our Bavarian Grey limestone and has created a distinctive space within the shopping mall.”