Stone Group International new Blog Link

Dear Readers,

Thank you for your dedication these years to our Blog.
We would like to inform you that you can keep on reading our news through our Site Blog List at this address:

http://www.stonegroup.gr/en/contents/index/blog

pebbles architect the world

http://www.inspirationgreen.com/pebble-mosiacs-underfoot.html

For thousands of years we have been pressing pebbles into patterns onto earthen floors. And numerous fine artists continue the tradition today... - See more at: http://www.inspirationgreen.com/pebble-mosiacs-underfoot.html#sthash.wqx2c12h.dpuf

For thousands of years we have been pressing pebbles into patterns onto earthen floors. And numerous fine artists continue the tradition today... - See more at: http://www.inspirationgreen.com/pebble-mosiacs-underfoot.html#sthash.wqx2c12h.dpuf

For thousands of years we have been pressing pebbles into patterns onto earthen floors. And numerous fine artists continue the tradition today... - See more at: http://www.inspirationgreen.com/pebble-mosiacs-underfoot.html#sthash.wqx2c12h.dpuf

China Stone Material Association

The China Stone Material Association ascertains turnaround in the local stone branch with incipient market consolidation

Latest news: for 2016, China’s Central Bank predecits the country’s exports to fall by 1%. Yet the growth of GDP is expeted to be at 6.8%, a Reuters journal reports.
China’s natural stone branch is currently experiencing a market shake-out as was determined at this year’s Xiamen Trade Fair (March 6th to 9th 2016). The China Stone Material Association Association (CSMA) describes in an anylisis for Stone-Ideas.com the current transition. http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/06/16/another-feature-in-chinas-stone-industry-is-the-increasing-importation-of-processed-stone-products/

Turning carbon from CO2 into solid material at an unbelievable rate

http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/06/15/turning-carbon-from-co2-into-solid-material-at-an-unbelievable-rate/

A ship made of marble prisms commemorating slave trade across the Atlantic

The sculpture at the entrance to the UN Headquarters bears the inscription „Ark of Return“, and won one of MIA’s 2015 Pinnacle Awards

„Ark of Return“ is a permanent memorial commemorating slave trade across the Atlantic. It was erected in 2015 at the entrance to the UN-Headquarters and received one of the Pinnacle Awards of the Marble Institute of America (MIA) in the same year. The jury acknowledged the exceptional achievement of natural stone craftsmen and engineers who participated in the project.
 http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/06/14/a-ship-made-of-marble-prisms-commemorating-slave-trade-across-the-atlantic/

Abandoned Buildings While Travelling Across Europe

During the last four years, I have been photographing abandoned places across the world for my project “Ask the Dust”. I am now very proud to present my work to you; feel free to create your own stories on what’s hidden behind these images.

Come with me in an epic journey through ruins from the genteel parlours of long departed haute-bourgeoisie families to the sparse industrial beauty of mid-century factories as they quietly rust away. As in a walking day dream, we are absorbed, picture after picture, into a wordless reverie.
http://mydesignstories.com/abandoned-buildings-travelling-across-europe/

Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.

Frank Lloyd Wright working at a drafting table during the original construction of Taliesin West (circa 1938)

The Taliesin campuses, together, form the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, the modern-day incarnation of Wright's historic apprenticeship program that is in the process of becoming an independent subsidiary of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and accredited with the Higher Learning Commission to be able to continue offering an M.Arch. program. Last year, the school met an ambitious fundraising goal of $2 million in order to become financially independent of the foundation. We're expecting to learn more about the status of the school as early as this month.

http://www.architectmagazine.com/design/culture/happy-149th-birthday-frank-lloyd-wright_o?utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=Brief&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=AN_060816%20%281%29&he=e02ba4375df35dfb040d33869b8a3cd7549b23a3

The architecture of Education

https://www.yatzer.com/cc-for-education-auction-nepal/slideshow/1

ancient Greek city are of natural origin

Alleged paved floors, courtyards and colonnades were created by geological phenomenon up to five million years ago
The ancient underwater remains of an alleged long lost Greek city were in fact created by a naturally occurring phenomenon – according to joint research from the University of East Anglia (UK) and the University of Athens (Greece).
When underwater divers discovered what looked like paved floors, courtyards and colonnades, they thought they had found the ruins of a long-forgotten civilization that perished when tidal waves hit the shores of the today Greek holiday island Zakynthos.
 http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/06/08/another-long-forgotten-civilization-lost-underwater-remains-of-an-alleged-ancient-greek-city-are-of-natural-origin/

Bronze Prize for 12 Mythic Marbles-European Design Awards 2016

"12 Mythic Marbles" Collector's Edition exclusively by #stonegroup International, received the 3nd Prize in the European #design Awards. The book is a unique work combining a historical and aesthetic aspect of marble though ages, along with the trading one. This publication, except of the value it adds to the product, is collectable because of the information...http://design.lulop.com/en_EN/post/show/113404/bronze-prize-for-12-mythi.html

Designing a city block

The issue of our thesis project was the redefinition of a common city block in the area of Gyzi, Athens through a proposal that acts in two levels: a) the integration of the internal non-built area of the block, the "akalyptos" and b) the restoration and reuse of three old buildings to meet the inhabitants' needs. Our main goal was that all of our interventions should be governed by the principles of a sustainable and green architecture.

http://www.greekarchitects.gr/en/projects2015/designing-a-city-block-id10865

„Global Heritage Stone Provinces“

Spanish geologists propose the quarries of Berroqueña Granite for the list of „Global Heritage Stone Provinces“

 http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/05/27/spanish-geologists-propose-the-quarries-of-berroquena-granite-for-the-list-of-global-heritage-stone-provinces/

Tables from Citco’s Zaha Hadid Collection

The Verona based stone company had donated three pieces from its 2013 cooperation with the recently deceased star architect
Three Mercuric Tables from Citco’s Zaha Hadid Collection were donated to an auction for the new building of the London Design Museum and raised over £1,160,000 together with other spectacular examples of contemporary design. „The Time for Design Auction“ was held as live sale on April 28, 2016 followed by an online auction continued until May 2.
 http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/05/25/tables-from-citcos-zaha-hadid-collection-auctioned-for-the-benefit-of-the-new-london-design-museum/

World’s Most Energy Efficient Museum is in Center of Medieval City

The integration of the Passive House certified museum Kunstmuseum Ravensburg into the fabric of a medieval city challenges the identity of architecture by bridging 500 years of vernacular with a single gesture. The museum maintains the German city’s fabric with a nod in materiality and form, but resolutely avoids mimicry or nostalgia. If you quickly walked passed it you may not even recognize it is of our era. The barrel vault roof relief and rich, historical brickwork allow the mass to slip into the old, dense neighborhood with only a whisper and wink of the contemporary on the outside.http://www.evolo.us/architecture/worlds-most-energy-efficient-museum-is-in-center-of-medieval-city/

Wall Tiles

Turkish-based Assos Marble showed out-of-the-ordinary design products at the Izmir Trade Fair
Fascinating wall tiles with 3-D effects were presented by Turkish-bases Assos Marble Company as a novelty at the Izmir Trade Fair (March 23rd to 26th 2016). The family enterprise whose members jointly created the new design product has been developing ideas for innovative design in natural stone since it was founded in 2004.
 http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/05/24/wall-tiles-with-3-d-effects-in-natural-stone/

European Design Awards 12 Mythic Marbles

http://www.dolphinsonline.gr/

Salone del Mobile

But the stone sector must present more new ideas to create attentiveness and to promote its material as modern

A total of 373,151 visitors were registered at this, the 55th Salone del Mobile, Milan (12th to 17th April 2016), of which 67% came from abroad. That was an increase of 4% compared to the previous year. Some 2407 exhibitors, 30% of them from foreign countries, were represented on a total surface of 270,000 m² spread over 20 halls.
 http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/05/20/salone-del-mobile-1-natural-stone-amply-represented-and-even-visible/

Brutal London

Following “Brutal London,” Zupagrafika has released another collection of illustrated paper cut-out models, “Paris Brut," which portrays the Brutalist architecture of Paris from the late-’50s through the 1970s. The set features buildings from the city’s arrondissements and banlieues, the latter of which became a central locality for Habitation à Loyer Modéré, a type of public-private, rent-controlled housing in France.
 http://www.archdaily.com/787783/zupagrafika-honors-brutalism-in-paris-with-paper-models

Cloud Craft: Rainmaking Skyscraper

Droughts are a recurring feature of California’s climate, and the current four-year period starting from the fall of 2011 has been the driest in history since recordkeeping began in 1895. California is in fact the world’s fifth-largest supplier of food and most of the farming depends on irrigation, which usually accounts for about 80% of the state’s human water use. In 2014 growers lost about 6.6 million acre-feet of surface water and 2.2 billion dollars because of the drought.
 http://www.evolo.us/competition/cloud-craft-rainmaking-skyscraper/

Natural Stone

Myth: Natural Stone Stains Easily
Staining is a big concern for many homeowners considering natural stone. A common misconception is that common products like red wine, cosmetics or coffee will stain natural stone countertops beyond repair. While staining can occur on any light colored material, including some lighter stones, Carl Vona Jr., president of Paramount Stone in Stamford, Connecticut, says that most stains are treatable.http://www.financialbuzz.com/dispelling-myths-about-natural-stone-445842

Vermion White marble from Greece: simply elegant...

Stone Group International (SGI) from Thessaloniki has integrated a new white marble into its portfolio of more than 250 natural stones
„Vermion White“ is one of the most elegant marbles and luxurious premium decorative materials for architectural building projects. Characteristics are the soft white stripes on a light grey background with uniform parallel veins and smooth waves.
 http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/05/13/vermion-white-marble-from-greece-simply-elegant/

Relief in Stone

Reliefs in natural stone give a building an unmistakable look and provide work for skilled craftsmen...

http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/05/13/reliefs-in-natural-stone-give-a-building-an-unmistakable-look-and-provide-work-for-skilled-craftsmen/

“THE HUG”

The project is a contemporary evolution of the classic courtyard tipology, unfolding the four sides of the courtyard along the axis of the main road,creating a central urban square facing south for both students and citizens.The four sides go up from east to west according to the heights of the surrounding buildings. It allows to keep the view of the main Alvar Aalto building and creating a main access.The former carriageable roads are processed in the main pedestrian and cycle paths, keeping the total permeability of the site in the main points of access.The creation of two different external levels that takes shape from theterrain, has enabled the customization of two different open spaces.
http://www.evolo.us/architecture/alvar-aalto-campus-otaniemi-finland/

Well, this is AIA

AIA Convention 2016 is the architecture and design event of the year! Join us in Philly May 19-21. Imagine what could happen.

https://convention.aia.org/

Arch Marathon

http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/05/07/latest-news-through-a-cooperation-with-archmarathon-marmomacc-wants-to-attract-more-architects-and-designers-as-visitors-2/

During the 2016 Verona Stone Fair will be started the qualification for Archmarathon’s new „Stone“ category
Marmomacc has launched a cooperation with Archmarathon to promote and valorize natural stone in architecture.

Italy’s natural stone exports 2015

The country could again increase its export- and value turn-over / Imports of raw blocks down with a rise in imports of slabs

In view of the difficult times, figures could hardly be better: Italy’s stone branch (excluding machinery and tools) took the magical 2 billion € hurdle for exports for the first time since introduction of the €. In numbers: 2.064 billion € were turned over, whereby the magical mark remains vanquished even if chips and powders are left out of the statistic.
 http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/05/06/italys-natural-stone-exports-2015-a-shining-performance-despite-difficult-times/

and Thassos, Paros and Pentelicon in Greece...

the results, which are published by the journal Applied Surface Science, demonstrate that these variables have made it possible to confirm that the marble analyzed came from different quarries: Carrara in Italy; Proconnesos, Docimium and Aphrodisias in Turkey; and Thassos, Paros and Pentelicon in Greece...

 http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/05/05/underwater-research-near-naples-the-marble-used-in-roman-villas-came-from-quarries-in-carrara-turkey-and-greece/

 

Latest news: Auction of stone sculpture in support of Save the Children’s Syria Aid programme

http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/05/02/auction-of-stone-sculpture-in-support-of-save-the-childrens-syria-aid-programme-2/

Stone Animas

Arts History professor David García Cueto (University of Granada) analizes unpublished documents from the Archivio Storico Capitolino
The renowned „Animas“, two marble heads considered one of the most important works of baroque sculptor, painter and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s youth, are not a representation of a Christian soul’s salvation in heaven or punishment in hell (as believed until now), respectively but they really are mythologically themed sculptures: a nymph and a satyr.
 http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/04/28/berninis-marble-animas-show-a-nymph-and-a-satyr-not-salvation-in-heaven-and-punishment-in-hell/

Breitwieser is the Art of Stone

Once recognized the variety of natural stones, everybody will remain enthusiastic. With the construction of Austria´s biggest show room, “Stone World”, we want to give our clients an idea about the variety of natural stones from all over the world. About 600 different types of natural stones from all over the world - from marble, granite, limestone and slate to onyxes - are currently lined up in our "Stone World". Dive into the world of marble, granite and onyx and experience the fascination of this extraordinary material.

 http://www.breitwieser-stein.at/index-e.html
 

Precise Inaccuracy

ArchitectScripta is organizing two Workshops in July 2016 in Athens, Greece taught by Nefeli Chatzimina [Lecturer at the University of Southern California,PhD Candidate NTUA] and Justin Brecthel [Adjunct Lecturer at University of Southern California,UCLA,LEED], both Alumni Graduates of Columbia University NYC [GSAPP, AAD], with Nikos Papavasileiou [ArchitectScripta Project Architect]. ArchitectScripta Workshops refer to Students of Architecture and Art, Professional Architects, Designers and Artists.
1) Workshop I from 27th of June until the 7th of July 2016 Workshop I, hosted by the Benaki Museum, under the auspices of the Hellenic Institute of Architecture and the Athens School of Fine Arts.
2) Workshop II from 11th of July until the 21st of July 2016 Workshop II, hosted by the Benaki Museum, under the auspices of the Hellenic Institute of Architecture and the Athens School of Fine Arts.
 http://www.evolo.us/architecture/precise-inaccuracy-architectscripta-maya-grasshopper-workshops-july-2016-in-athens-greece/

Espace Montmorency

In the centre of what is now referred to as Laval's "Cité du savoir et de la culture," MONTONI, Claridge and the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ are partnering on a bold $420 million development project. Once completed, Espace Montmorency, which offers direct access to the metro, will consist of about 10 buildings with shops, offices, a hotel, entertainment venues and other public spaces.
 http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/espace-montmorency-a-420-million-investment-in-the-largest-commercial-real-estate-project-ever-built-in-laval-558842411.html

.. crystallization of a story...

sculpture, slit, journey, narrative, garden

Recognizing the city as a sculpture and creating a new landscape that communes with water, are defined mentally and perceptually through a new architectural vocabulary that reproduces the way of perception of the Japanese garden.

The waterways in Tokyo embody the ancient past, however today they are abandoned and degraded. Rivers and canals represent urban boundaries, a kind of intermediate, hybrid and public space. Kanda river, one of the most extensive and vital rivers in Tokyo, was used, historically, as the first drinking water transportation system for the palace.

The recognition of the water element appear as a crack of the urban sculpture, the research of the current situation and the vision of regaining the public landscape and the restoration of the relationship with water, are studied in three scales.

RECOGNITION

The study area, north and south of Kanda river, is a node of contact of four individual centers of Japanese capital and is characterized by:

- High density of the urban infrastructure
- -Strong physical relief and many water elements
- Important landmarks of the city and large accumulation areas
- Advanced and extensive transport system...

 http://www.greekarchitects.gr/en/projects2015/at-the-crack-of-the-sculpture-id10747

Turkey Exports

Turnover of value-added products to the USA stable / Country going to great lengths in seeking new markets
For the second year in a row Turkey has experienced a recession in exports of natural stone even falling to below the magical 2 billion-US-$-mark: in 2014, exports by value had reached 2.128 billion US-$ (equaling 7.371 million t), a mere 1.907 billion US-$ (or 6.5219 million t) could be chalked up in 2015.
Expressed in percentage this meant -10% negative growth by value and -12% by tonnage as compared to the 12-month period one year prior (2014: -4.2% by value, -12.6% by tonnage).
 http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/04/21/turkey-falling-back-to-the-2-billion-us-mark-after-the-second-weak-export-year-in-a-row/

Contextualism

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture is dedicated to the design of high-performance, energy-efficient and sustainable architecture on an international scale. The firm approaches each project, regardless of size or scale, with an understanding that architecture has a unique power to influence civic life. We strive to create designs that aid society, advance modern technology, sustain the environment and inspire those around us to improve our world.
 http://smithgill.com/vision/our_story/

Handicraft Ideas

https://gr.pinterest.com/kapejj/pedras/?utm_campaign=activity&e_t=520cfe89aed3439ba2e01a1738343ca9&utm_medium=2003&utm_source=31&e_t_s=board

Community spaces in the area of windmills

This diploma project is a proposal for intervention in the traditional village of Symi. An experimental introduction of modern functions, materials and activities in a village that time has not touched much. The issue of the traditional settlements in Greece has enormous dimensions. We need to look for efficient ways of intervention and modernization so that they can remain alive covering the needs of their residents. In response to historical settlement question, the diplomatic answers to reuse this remarkable building stock of windmills, by activating an entire region forgotten by time and creating new tumors able to accommodate the new uses.
 http://www.greekarchitects.gr/en/projects2015/symi-ground-in-fructure-id10790

The coolest Nature ever...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wGyyNUcfEU&nohtml5=False

the only choice of venue

This year Milan Design Week will honor the Miami based Italian designer Vito Di Bari by hosting his newest creation, MyEquilibria, in a solo exhibit at the historical botanical garden, the Orto Botanico di Brera, in Milan. There will be a press conference on Monday, April 11th at 2:30pm and formal unveiling ceremony the day after in the Orto Botanico to mark this historic occasion, and officially launch the annual event.
Following the ceremony, MyEquilibria will be available to visitors free of charge courtesy of Fuorisalone in collaboration with the city of Milan.
 http://www.evolo.us/architecture/myequilibria-the-perfect-fusion-of-art-exercise-unveiled-at-the-milan-design-week/

Activating, raising awareness, capturing attention

Call for submissions for the UX Design Award of the Internationales Design Zentrum Berlin
From wake-up light alarm clocks to smart phones to electronic toothbrushes – our everyday life is shaped by objects that provide us with an increasing variety of options and complex functions. On the one hand, designers face the challenge to develop intuitive interfaces: The newly added features should enrich the user experience rather than leaving customers confused. On the other hand, designers need to come up with features that are beneficial and meaningful to users in the first place.
 http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/04/12/a-prize-for-designers-who-bring-natural-stone-and-consumer-electronics-together/

Vitória Stone Fair: No sign of recession in Brazil

Brazil’s current economic lag had no apparent effect on the Vitória Stone Fair (February 16th to 19th 2016): the number of visitors – 25,502 increased over last year’s count – 24.743: 5,047 visitors came from abroad according to a press-release – or 20 %.
http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/04/09/vitoria-stone-fair-no-sign-of-recession-in-brazil/

Drone Skyscraper

Drone technology, adopted by many large corporations, has become a leading trend in the field of fast-delivery, aerial mapping, commercial advertising, government inspection, and filmmaking. As recent years have witnessed a rise in the development of drone technology, several major corporations, such as Amazon, DHL and Walmart, have begun investigating the use of drones in high-speed delivery service. As more and more people live on internet-based lifestyles...
http://www.evolo.us/competition/the-hive-drone-skyscraper/

This new and improved Xiamen Stone Fair brings new life to fairs

Xiamen Stone Fair: China’s stone branch discovers marble and granite as materials for detailed design...

 http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/04/06/xiamen-stone-fair-1-chinas-stone-branch-discovers-marble-and-granite-as-materials-for-detailed-design/

formation processes in nature

In 2016 AA Athens Visiting School continues to examine the philosophy of phenomenology as a starting point in the architectural design. Structures of consciousness experienced from the first-person point of view will be coupled with the study shapes in action. The experience around an architectural object will act as the central point of ambience for the user's space. Assessing the way by which natural formations are created and exist as active players in shaping their environment will be achieved via digital simulation. Forms and structures will be created with an aim to alter the feeling of their surrounding by being put into motion. A series of morphologies will be designed, informed by biomimetic form-finding methods through a bottom-up approach via various coding techniques. A 1:1 scale structure will be put together, enabling experience of built space and of building materials in their sensory aspects as a result of a series of initial testing models. These proposals will be applied through the combination of different software including among other Processing, Arduino and Rhino Grasshopper. For more information visit the programme's site. http://ai.aaschool.ac.uk/athens/

Zetta Byte

Data is proliferating: every transaction, entry, emails, and even every mouse click is stored in a server. Annual global IP traffic will pass the zettabyte threshold by the end of 2016, and will reach 2 zettabytes per year by 2019. Considering this, a problem in the near future will be to find a place to store this information.
A data center is the...http://www.evolo.us/competition/data-skyscraper-sustainable-data-center-in-iceland/

The patchwork bathtub is bold, fun and beautiful.

 

High-end design with traditional values embracing multiculturalism and a reappraisal of international artisanal techniques to experiment with marble, shapes and proportion creating results that are luxurious and contemporary-looking...http://www.dzym.co.uk/ 

 

 

 

 

Zaha Hadid Queen of the Curve

Dame Zaha Hadid, the world-renowned architect, whose designs include the London Olympic aquatic centre, has died aged 65. The British designer, who was born in Iraq, had a heart attack on Thursday while in hospital in Miami, where she was being treated for bronchitis.
Hadid’s buildings have been commissioned around the world and she was the first woman to receive the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) gold medal. http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/mar/31/star-architect-zaha-hadid-dies-aged-65

                    

 

Emotions on Stone

Euroroc, the European umbrella organization of the national stone associations, has published its April report informing about its recent and coming activities. We give a short summary and put the complete pdf for download (see below):

„The competition that the stone sector is facing from materials like ceramic, artificial (engineered) stone etc is getting stronger every day,“ Euroroc General Secretary Professor Gerd Merke states. „In reaction, natural stone has to emphasize its emotional components in a stronger way than before.“
http://www.stone-ideas.com/2016/03/30/emotions-as-a-tool-to-promote-natural-stone-is-one-aspect-in-eurorocs-april-report/

The importance of joints in the natural stone floors

The construction of pavements, especially outdoor, is perhaps the most difficult constructive application for natural stone, due to the magnitude of mechanical weights, ease of water saturation, due to an almost horizontal position deposit of polluting particles on the pavement surface and dumping of undesirables products by humans, among other factors.

 

To project a pavement, while taking into account the above, we define the constructive section, ie, the elements that will be required for construction. Among these, it is essential to define the type of joints, their dimensions and their arrangement on the paved area.

Joints are construction units that divide up the pavement to absorb movements from the various elements it supports.

 

In a pavement project using natural stone the following joint typologies should be taken into consideration: division joints, intersection joints, and joint seals.

 

http://www.litosonline.com/en/node/926

SGI gives back to communities

Aims to expand and deepen private sector action in support of peace - in the workplace, marketplace and local communities. Assists companies in implementing responsible business practices aligned with the Global Compact ten principles in conflict-affected and high-risk areas and catalyze action to advance peace.
https://www.unglobalcompact.org/library/381

Finished Marble Products

Boom in US demand in 2015. CarraraMarmotec 2016 to host a selected group of US buyers, contractors and architects.
In 2015, the Italian stone industry exported nearly four million tons of natural stone to the rest of the world, recording a value that, for the first time since the advent of the euro, exceeded two billion euro. These are the numbers reported by the Internazionale Marmi e Macchine Carrara study and research department that, like every year, analyses and processes the ISTAT data on foreign trade for the Italian natural stone industry.The growth in value of 6.3% compared to 2014, despite a decline of 5% in quantity, testifies the significant increase in the average unit value of the products exported. In fact, in 2015 the average value of quality raw materials and finished products amounted to 665 euro per ton, showing an increase of 10% compared to 2014.

http://www.immcarrara.com/uk/IMM/elenco-news/marble-for-the-first-time-in-2015-italy-exported-.asp