Beneath the Surface Blog

What a great experience working with the design team at Hickok Cole to develop these custom backlit onyx ottoman tops! Designed specifically for a lobby space in downtown Washington, D.C., these movable ottoman sets were envisioned to have a glowing white onyx finish against a cubic wooden base. Creating custom furniture pieces is always refreshing for us, as the details at a smaller scale become an even more important.

Here's a peek into the process:

With the ottoman design and layout nailed down, the team at Hickok Cole Architects selected our Ivory Vein Onyx to adorn the ottomans. This onyx variety was chosen for its clean veining and creamy white coloration. It was reinforced with glass backing and thinned down to provide higher translucency levels and increased durability for a commercial lobby.

Controllable LED backlighting animates the onyx surface while giving it a whole other layer of variability.  When the backlighting is off or dimmed to a low level, the onyx appears cleanly modern. With warm LED backlighting, the onyx takes on a soft candlelit glow to provide ambiance for the lobby environment.

In a continuous flow of veins between the top pieces and edge pieces, the natural stone patterning wraps onto all faces.  Likewise, the lighting behind each face is controlled separately to account for natural variances in the stone formation.

Knife mitered edges accentuate the simple geometry of the ottoman design. The detailed layers of onyx, lighting, and fasteners to construct the ottomans were developed in conjunction with the furniture manufacturer, Asher Cole, who assembled the wooden bases with our onyx tops.

The ottomans are currently in the finishing stages by the furniture manufacturer and will soon be shipped to the job site.  We'll see everything illuminated after the electrical hook up to our Infuse™ lighting control counterparts (which are waiting on site for the lovely onyx to arrive).  Stay tuned for more photos of these glowing onyx furniture pieces!

The GPI Design team flew out to San Francisco to build and then present a mock-up prototype for backlit onyx elevator cabs that we have been developing for quite some time now. Built and reviewed in under 72 hours, the trip was a whirlwind but it was so rewarding to see our renderings jump off the page and come to life!

The backlit onyx is being used to clad the inside of multiple elevator cabs for a commercial property renovation in San Francisco. Designed by the architectural team at SOM and lighting designer Francis Krahe, translucent stone panels were envisioned as the jewelry-like accents to bring high-design flair to the elevator interiors.

The teams at SOM and TMG Partners have been completely hands-on throughout the stone selection, veining layout, and detailing processes. Exchanging drawings and submittals got us so far, and then it came time to build to decide on the final touches.

Our backlit onyx panels serve as the sole source of light in the elevator cabs and the design is completely streamlined – upon entering the cab, one perceives a monolithic plane of onyx with veins creeping up the wall and then folding onto the ceiling plane. Standing in the cab space is quite dramatic!

In these images, the cab appears split into two as the color temperature is being carefully studied and selected. As you can see, the hue of the backlighting changes the perception of the onyx surface. The design team selected the warmer temperature on the right hand side which is approximately equivalent to the temperature of the sunrise.

Other things that we tested and finalized at this mock-up included:

• Proper thickness of onyx for optimal translucency levels
• Design of the lighting cavity: overall depth, position of LED panels in relation to onyx
• Method of lighting control and strategically grouping panels
• How to diffuse the lighting based on this specific onyx
• Wiring management throughout the whole cab
• Joint details and joint treatments
• Construction and material tolerances
• Installation sequencing

Now we’re back in the office with an approved mock-up and a clear direction. We’re revising our drawings based on what we learned and headed into full production for this project soon. Stay tuned for photos of each of the remaining cabs – each one is sure to have its own personality with the stone patterning! You can see more photos on GPI Design's Facebook page.

A special thanks to Mitsubishi elevators for providing the cab shells and Plant Construction for your hospitality on site.

As we welcome 2013, the team at GPI has been reminiscing about our favorite backlit projects completed in the last year and brainstorming on what experiences we can take forward into the new year.

From backlit 3Form desks in Cleveland to backlit exotic wood in Washington D.C. to a custom onyx barfront in Bahrain, here are some snippets of our past year.  Glancing at these project photos reminds us how lucky we are to have added such diverse and widespread projects to our portfolio in 2012.  We truly learned something new in each of these projects and thank our clients for always keeping us on our toes with new applications!

(click on each photo to read more)

Here's to keeping the strong vision and creating even more original backlighting pieces in 2013!

The Oculus Bar at the Venetian Hotel is an icon of Las Vegas. Reflecting the Italian grandeur and charm of the city of Venice, the original design of the Oculus bar boasted Ionic columns, ornate statues, strong spatial divisions, and layers upon layers of color and form. When the design teams of Wilson Associates and Steelman partners were recently commissioned to renovate the Oculus Bar, they engaged in a delicate dance with history.

(Above: Oculus Bar before renovation)

(Above: Oculus Bar after renovation)

How to update a historical, iconic bar space while respecting its historical references and bringing it up to date with modern design? Here's how this project team accomplished the feat:

• Removing the visual interruption of the perimeter columns creates a more open and inviting atmosphere for bar patrons. By softening the edges and ceiling plane, the bar is able to flow into and relate to the adjacent spaces.
• Maintaining the octagonal shape of the bar space keeps the most memorable element of this space translated into the renovation. Its distinct geometry and straight lines are carried through all layers of the bar design.
• The central octagon reaches full height to join strongly with the ceiling, visually strengthening the central anchor of the bar.
• The eight pedestals at the perimeter of the octagonal bar provide an opportunity to introduce a signature, textured material at the level and scale to have most impact on the patrons.

GPI Design was selected to adorn the bar pedestals with our custom backlit onyx panels. Keeping in the spirit of the overarching spatial design, the onyx panels were envisioned to have a chic white background marked with strong defining veins. And while the project team moved full steam ahead whipping the remainder of the space into shape, these small crown jewels of backlit onyx were guided to fruition by the GPI team.

To transform the custom onyx panels from their raw slab format to the final installed pieces on-site, GPI Design began by scouring the quarries for stone slabs that met the designers' vision.

After the building owners put their stamp of approval on the hand-selected slabs, we moved quickly (yet carefully) through the fabrication process so that our backlit onyx could be installed as the remainder of the space completed construction.  The onyx pieces were laminated to glass, cut to size, and laid out in careful bookmatched arrangements.

The LED backlighting panels and electrical schematics were engineered as the stone was in production, all with the ability to be controlled and adjusted as the onyx and lighting finally converged on-site.

The backlit onyx panels punctuate the eight pedestals with an elegant material statement, creating glowing beacons and intimate spatial dividers for the bar patrons.  With the forms, detailing, and color palette tying together throughout the renovated bar space, the Oculus Bar is transformed while maintaining strong ties to its original Italianate design.

Image credits: VegasChatter, Hi-Con, Inc., Wilson Associates

With numerous technological innovations that have revolutionized the construction industry, do natural materials remain a major source of inspiration for modern architects and designers? Though often treated as an applied finish or an afterthought, what if we re-frame our thinking about these natural building materials to allow their deeper roots to inform our designs? If you take on this point of view, you'll quickly see that many contemporary buildings around the world could have been influenced by our favorite material: onyx! The wide range of colors and diverse styles of veining in natural onyx can inspire creative solutions to architectural problems regarding structure, materiality, openings, and sun-shading.

Take a look at our collection of onyx slabs paired with contemporary architecture projects to gain greater insight into our point of view:

• One of the most attractive characteristics of onyx is the layered quality of the stone resulting from environmental changes throughout the different stages of its lifetime. Like this multi-brown onyx, St. Botolph's Hall in London, England uses a spectrum of earth-toned striations to give a multi-dimensional aesthetic to the facade of an otherwise ordinary building.

  

• In addition to mimicking amber tones in the materials and lighting features, the Trunk house by Paul Morgan alludes to onyx veining in its structure. By utilizing forked trees as the primary form of structural support, this Australian home creates a relationship with the natural surroundings while simultaneously introducing ancient Aboriginal construction methods.  The sharp lines across an organic background provide instant visual interest.

  

• It can be argued that the delicate proportioning system of Steven Holl's Museum of Ocean and Surf was inspired by the thin black striations slicing through crystal-white onyx. Located in Biarritz, France, this seaside structure received the “Best Building of the Year” award in 2011; embodying our favorite characteristics of onyx - translucency, soft dustings of color, and contrast - we can see why.

  

• China is evolving into into the new international capital for high-tech architecture and design. Taking cues from the elegant white striations in black onyx, the building at Leatop Plaza is likely to become an architectural icon in the Guangzhou skyline.  The sharp lines slice through black masses unapologetically.

  

• One of GPI Design's favorite qualities of onyx is the multi-dimensionality that can be achieved on a flat surface. The Yellow Diamond by Jun Mitsui & Associates extrudes the characteristics of honey onyx to form a 3D “gem” within the Seoul urban realm.  A dynamic interaction with the streetscape is achieved with the subtle extrusions of crystallized forms.

  

By shifting perspectives and dissolving scale, materials can spur the exploration of new architectural concepts.  How can YOU shrink, stretch, extrude, slice, and layer other natural materials to inform design solutions at a larger scale?

Image credits: E-Architect, CNL Stone, Architizer, StoneWorld, 1BP, ArchDaily 

After the initial exchange with the interior designers at Darrell Schmitt Design Associates back in the beginning of 2011, this backlit onyx dining table has slowly and steadily come to fruition.  GPI Design was originally intended to just provide the material for a backlit onyx tabletop for a private residence in the Middle East.  Four panels cut to size, a small undertaking for the large volumes we're used to.

Sounds pretty simple, huh?  Not so fast.  No contractor or millworker was willing to take on the task of creating the entire table structure, due to the weight and fragility of the onyx panels.  So we stepped up to the plate and decided that WE would make the entire table.  That meant a whole lot of attention to detail, intense engineering calculations, and custom fabricated metalwork; we were pumped up for the challenge.

This video outlines the process of design, fabrication, engineering, and assembly that has occurred over the past year.  We are proud of the finished result, particularly how smoothly the rendering translated to the final product.  As usual, we obsessed over the details, spent hours coordinating and integrating the elements, and became quite attached to this work of art.  The table is currently packed up and on its way to the Middle East for final installation in the dining room of the residence.

Some cool facts about the table:

• The table is over 15 feet in length
• The table top weighs nearly 2,000 lbs
• The edge profile is only 2" thick
• The designer selected the honey onyx stone completely custom - no 2 pieces are the same
• The stone is opened up like a book, with pattern lines reflected across joints
• The table is tied back to a central lighting control system so the lighting settings can change scenes
• What you don't see: wiring, metal plates, attachments, fasteners, clips, structural reinforcements
• At the beginning stages of stone and lighting design, the lighting designer flew in from LA to view half of the table top in mock-up format
• Fallon and Caitlin nearly had panic attacks every time the stone was moved

Bon voyage to our dear table, we'll see you on the other side of the pond!

Maybe it's time for more late night office sessions, the multitude of windows leads to endless inspiration! Playing with our backlit onyx samples late in the day, a quick glimpse out the window at the dramatic clouds reminds us why we love working with natural stone materials.

Evening view from the GPI Design Westlake office

Much like this sunset, the colors and patterning in natural stone are entirely organic and specific to a certain point in time.  While the composition of the sunset is fleeting, the patterns formed in an onyx panel are stamped for eternity; a tangible piece of nature turned into a building material. Both the sunset and the onyx are gorgeous because of the components that constitute their forms and patterns, but lighting brings a whole new layer of warmth and dimension to their perception.

12" x 20" sample of backlit Iranian Blue Onyx Pin It

Admittedly, the thought of placing color gel filters over the windows to tint the sky to our exact liking DID cross our minds. (And what if that cloud moved left just a little bit? Ooh, I would love to see more gold just above the horizon.)  We constantly remind ourselves to run with the randomness of nature. Sometimes you just can't design beauty.

Onyx itself is a luxurious material, and when integrated with the proper backlighting techniques the layers and depth of the stone is further brought to life.  You’re investing money and design time into this natural product, so consider the following tips to properly showcase the natural beauty of onyx:

1. Choose an onyx stone variety that has significant visible veining or texture- the natural color and movement will distinguish the high-end natural stone finish from a man-made alternative.

(above image: Tower Oaks Backlit Honey Onyx Feature Wall by GPI Design)

2. White onyx is the least forgiving stone for backlighting applications.  Backlit white onyx is prone to hot and cold spots, so allow more space between the stone and the lighting source or consider using diffusers, scrims, and filters.

(above image: Maker's Mark backlit onyx bar in Indianapolis by GPI Design)

3. When designing with standard dimensional onyx panels, ensure that the light source is bright enough to transfer through the stone surface.

4. When designing with glass-backed stone panels, ensure that the glass is non-leaded.  Leaded glass casts a greenish tint and can alter the color of the onyx panel.

5. When designing a ceiling or wall layout of backlit onyx panels, consider the book matching composition and how the seams will interact with the natural veining of the stone. (Read our previous blog post on book matching natural stone for more details.)

(above image: Signature Place Backlit Onyx Lobby Feature Walls by GPI Design)

Designing with backlighting and natural onyx comes with its own set of limitations, so take time to mock-up the stone and light assemblies or choose a company with experience in integrating the two products.

Natural sunlight is a seamless light that provides enveloping spatial qualities, free from interruption. With designers increasingly turning to nature for design inspiration, recreating this smooth quality can be tricky with artificial lighting technology. How do you avoid choppy, spotty, discontinuous appearance within your artificial lighting sources?

When translating your design from small samples to fully cladding an entire wall, don’t forget that the every material has its scalar limits. (Yes, even LED light panels are limited to 4’ x 9’ sheets!) This means that for a cladding a 10’ x 40’ backlit glass wall, you could have anywhere from 11 to 100 individual LED light panels, and probably only 8 glass panels. How do we make those seams in the lighting disappear? It depends on the specific condition and how the Flat-Lite™ LED panels are designed.  At GPI, we use these terms to qualify what type of light seam we are designing around:

1. Non-powered field seam

Non-powered field seam condition without diffusing methods or correct cavity

This type of edge does not have LEDs located on it, but when light bounces off the edge of the panel, a slight bright spot still occurs. When non-powered field seams are located in the center (or “field”) of the surface panel, it can become apparent. Calculating the correct lighting cavity (situating the surface the correct distance away from the light source) typically mitigates the evidence of a non-powered field seam.

2. Powered field seam

Powered field seam condition without diffusing methods or correct cavity

Powered field seams are the illuminated edge along which the LED light sources are located. These are the brightest and most susceptible of seams. When butted together and placed behind the center of a continuous surface panel (glass/resin/stone/fabric), powered field seams can create a very evident bright line. Without finish trims and edge treatments to disguise the bright line, their location within the center continuous surface makes them even more apparent. Diffusing panels and optic films are often applied to the Flat-Lite™ LED panels to disguise the evidence of a powered field seam.

3. Powered perimeter

In gray circle: powered perimeter without any diffusing methods

A powered perimeter is an edge with LED light sources located around the perimeter of your feature (where it meets the wall, ceiling, or finish trim). The powered edge seam doesn’t fall in the middle of a glass or onyx panel, so it doesn’t appear as disruptive as #2, but can provide evidence of bright spots.

4. Non-powered perimeter

The non-powered perimeter is our best friend. This condition does not contain LED light sources and is usually tucked away.  When all of the other conditions are diffused, it typically fades away quietly into the background, with little attention needed.

--> Don’t think that testing with one small lighting sample that appears continuous in a small square means your design work is done.  Pay careful attention when translating the lighting design to full scale panels, with particular attention to how the lighting panels meet at seams and match up with your surface module sizes.

As the counterpoint to our blog post “5 Reasons For Designers To Love Faux Stone Panels”, today we take on the alternate perspective and illustrate the benefits of natural stone panels. Given that this succeeding post quickly catapulted to twelve points, which I narrowed to six here, it’s pretty clear which material we regard as a superior architectural solution.

Here are the criteria which make glass-backed natural stone panels a superior architectural solution:

1. Backlighting and optical clarity

When backlighting panels for feature areas, natural translucent stone panels take on a sparkling appearance that is a result of the crystalline graining that formed in the stone over thousands (or millions) of years. With glass-backed exotic stones, such as onyx, the stone layer can be thinned from 1 mm to 12 mm, allowing much light but still retaining the visual effect of naturally layered depth. Most man-made faux stone panels tend to lack natural depth, appearing flat and dull when illuminated with a backlighting source.

2. Large Panel Sizes

If you’re designing for a large scale installation or simply want to minimize joints, natural stone panels can be sourced in very large sizes. It depends on the variety of stone, but we’ve utilized exotic onyx and marble panels up to 5’ x 10’. Acrylic or poured resin stone panels tend to be limited to standard sheet sizes. Even if the man-made products are thickened to increase rigidity and yield a larger panel, the additional surface thickness interferes with light transmission. With glass-backed natural stone surfaces, larger panels are created by simply increasing the thickness of the glass backing, preserving the translucency of the stone layer at only millimeters thin.

3. Natural Variation

Acrylic and resin stone panels are standardized into existing collections, offering limited selections of coloration and patterning. Each panel has the same patterning, yielding repetitive images. By using natural stone panels, visual characteristics vary within the slab itself and across the larger scale, creating unique fluctuation within installations. Natural veins and movement are reflected as dynamic bookmatched images across panel joints.

4. Longevity

Natural stone is classic, elegant, and distinct. For quality design features that withstand time, natural stone panels open up the most possibilities in creating enduring spatial elements. Onyx panels sustain their quality, with no evidence of surface degradation over time and very little maintenance required.

5. Exterior use

To our knowledge, there are no translucent faux stone materials that are rated for exterior applications. Glass-backed natural stone can be used in exterior curtainwall applications and as part of insulated glazing units. This only holds true for high quality fabricators with thorough testing, so use discrimination when selecting a source for exterior panels.

6. Uniqueness

Real stone is a product of Mother Nature, and each slab for each project is unique unto itself. Your client becomes the proud owner of a truly unique work of art.

--> I’d like to thank @whysideas for engaging in an interesting Twitter conversation in reaction to our first blog post. There’s something to be said for authenticity in architecture. Cheap materials and quick solutions show a sort of short-sightedness on the architect’s part, and if you’re not careful, technological capabilities can distort the appropriate contextual solution for a project. As @whysideas stated, “technological advances are so important but should give physicality to the architect’s imagination, not dictate it”. Our advice? Have some patience to allow your designs to unfold, and dedicate your time to implementing high quality materials that meet their intended use and will enhance the image of your space.