Beneath the Surface Blog

Upon the dawn of a new project, our architect and designer clients are quick to ask "do you have photographs of a similar application?". (Part of us must think designers are trained to ask those kinds of questions, as logic and an obligation to guide the owner to make sound investments take hold in these early evaluation stages.)

Our proud answer is often, "no". Quite frankly, we'd be bored if the answer to the question was "yes", and so would you. GPI prides itself on achieving unique works of art in stone and light that take extreme engineering feats, technical manipulation of surfaces and lighting... resulting in architectural pieces that are rare, unusual, and downright striking.

Think of the sculptor in this photo-he is reacting both emotionally and logically to a given set of parameters to create a distinct piece. The clay product is not really the focus here (you could buy clay from anywhere); the clay is manipulated by the sculptor's expert hands - formed through experience and insight.

The way that we work is different from what the A/D community typically expects out of a material supplier, so we like to establish early in the game that it’s in everyone’s best interest to view GPI as a member of your creative team and not just a vendor. We will work together to create exquisitely detailed features. If you’re wanting to take a risk for a truly unique piece, send us your sketches and let’s get started setting precedents for the architectural community.

Photo credit: User bdjsb7 via Flickr Creative Commons

In your typical daily life, how many objects do you interact with that are made of stone? (Think through your day, from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed. Do you ever see or touch stone? Is it far away or within reach? Is it on the wall, floor, ceiling, or is it an object?)

Your list has probably been narrowed to your countertop, patio pavement, and maybe the exterior of your office building. Now think, have you ever seen any of those stone objects made translucent and illuminated?

Unless you’re a GPI team member or a tenant in one of our office projects, the answer to the above is probably “no”. Stone itself is not a commonplace surface, and backlit stone is even rarer, providing a refreshing jolt to the senses. When new clients come through our door or the typical mailman is out sick and has a replacement,  “oohs” and “aahs” are muttered or exclaimed upon setting eyes on our product. Backlit onyx panels line the entry walls, standing proudly seven feet tall and emitting an even glow of light. Instinctually, new visitors run their hand along the surface, almost hoping to feel for an imperfection that will confirm that “yes, this is real stone”.

It’s no coincidence that our products are typically employed in feature areas of buildings- there is something intensely compelling about a glowing stone surface. Stone panels have an aura of permanence, durability, and luxury. Lighting elements render the natural movement of the stone surface with a sense of intrigue and depth, making our artistic installations visual and tactile anchors of space. To touch is irresistible.

Tomorrow, I’ll brush my teeth with plastic toothbrush in hand, drive to work in my metal and plastic car, but after turning the cool metal handle to open the office door, I’ll make sure to pause and graze my hands over those alluring natural stone surfaces.

A pretty typical situation occurred here at GPI this week.  A lighting design firm had specified our Infuse™ flat LED panels for a large commercial project, and the contractor ended up making a substitution in order to try to save some money.  As it turns out, the substituted LED panel product looks absolutely terrible and the entire team, including the client, is very unhappy.  So, we received a slightly panicked email from the architect and lighting designer asking us to step in and solve the problem. 

We suspect that the substituted product was poorly made, but assuming that it wasn't, there's still a host of problems with the application.  Even if all flat LED panels are created equally, this particular LED company did not pay attention to the details, and ultimately wasted a significant amount of time and money.  The problems? Uneven illumination, panels sized incorrectly, bulky hardware that is interfering with the light, and absolutely no attention to light diffusion strategies... the textbook case for our integrated systems and process.

Budget is indeed a critical issue in building construction.  Flat LED panels are typically used in feature areas of buildings, becoming main spatial focal points that are evaluated with a discriminating eye.  So if you're looking to cut costs, it's not always wise to do so in such high-profile areas. 

The lesson here: investing more money up-front in a system from a company that will perform as you expect will help avoid costly replacements and changes down the line.  Many of our designers, especially our repeat clients, realize this value, but it can be difficult to communicate this seemingly intangible value to their clients.  What strategies do you use to convince building owners to invest in high-end products?