Groupwork

Stone Demonstrator, London (2025)

We are thrilled to share that the Stone Demonstrator is now installed at the Earl’s Court Development site in London — a three-storey public prototype demonstrating how stone and timber are sustainable alternatives to reinforced concrete and steel in structural frames.

The construction industry accounts for 40% of the world’s carbon emissions – we must radically rethink how we build. This project presents a viable and ethical alternative: a frame like this has around 90% less embodied carbon than steel or reinforced concrete. All new buildings could be built with similar structural principles and materials, paving the way for a much more sustainable future.

The Stone Demonstrator was funded by Future Observatory – the national research programme for the Green Transition — and designed by GROUPWORK and in collaboration with a long list of suppliers and contractors.

Client: Future Observatory at
Site partner:
Funder: The UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council
Architect: GROUPWORK
Engineers: and
Principal contractor:
Stone structure:
Hybrid stone and timber floor plate:
Dowel-laminated timber floor plate: IQ Wood
Structural stone suppliers: , Carrière de Luget, , , SigmaRoc
Stone brick facade: ,
Stone installation: Ryker Structures
Facade timber supports: Rossmore Contracts
Stone brick garden wall and seating:
Brick layers: Bishops Facades
Landscaping: Lyndon Osborn
Lighting: , .lighting,
Electrical installation:

Photography: Bas Princen