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    Good Bricks

    Saving history: Historic preservation finally gets its day in Houston with city-changing projects honored

    Barbara Kuntz
    Barbara Kuntz
    Feb 3, 2015 | 12:48 pm

    It's that "good" time of year again, when Preservation Houston reveals the winners of the Good Brick Awards for excellence in historic preservation. This year's 13 recipients run the gamut for renovations/remodels with special praise to a noted Houston socialite, fundraiser and community activist.

    Preservation Houston presents the honors on Feb. 20 at River Oaks Country Club and will recognize Phoebe Tudor with the 2015 President's Award "for her outstanding personal and professional contributions to historic preservation in Houston," according to a statement from the organization.

    “Every great city needs community leaders who are dedicated to the cause of historic preservation, and Houston is fortunate to have such a hard-working champion in Phoebe Tudor,” Stephanie Ann Jones, Preservation Houston executive director, says “So much of what’s been accomplished in Houston has been under Phoebe’s guidance and leadership.

    "Trained as an architectural historian, Tudor was instrumental in the restoration of the landmark Julia Ideson Building, chaired the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission and is leading the Friends of the Astrodome effort — and these represent only a few of her many accomplishments in the name of historic preservation."

    The 13 people and organizations with projects chosen to receive Good Brick Awards this year are:

    • Michael Skelly and Anne Whitlock, the H-E-B Award for the renovation of a Victorian cottage and the rescue of six historic houses in the East End.
    • The Heritage Society, the Martha Peterson Award for restoration and reinterpretation of the Fourth Ward Cottage in Sam Houston Park.
    • Glen Rosenbaum for rehabilitation of his mid-century modern house in Meyerland.
    • Pearl Hospitality for development of the JW Marriott Houston Downtown in the historic Carter Building.
    • Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School for renovation of the former Mount Carmel High School.
    • Harris County for renovation of the former Robert E. Lee Elementary School as the Leonel J. Castillo Community Center on the near Northside.
    • Houston Community College for restoration of the former San Jacinto High School in Midtown.
    • Nature Discovery Center Houston for rehabilitation of the historic Henshaw House in Bellaire.
    • Stephen Howe and Alicia Blaszak for renovation and sympathetic addition to their Tudor Revival-style house in the Boulevard Oaks Historic District.
    • Eva Hughes and Brenda Hughes for rehabilitation of the Art Deco Loggins-Hughes Building on Washington Avenue.
    • Ellie and Christian Busker for renovation of a 1920s bungalow in the Sunset Heights Annex.
    • Carl Hollimon for renovation and sympathetic addition to his Victorian cottage in the Old Sixth Ward Historic District.
    • James Gast for his book, The Astrodome: Building An American Spectacle.

    “For the past 36 years, the Good Brick Awards have been one of the best ways we have for increasing public awareness of historic preservation in Houston and encouraging additional projects,” Preservation Houston president Jane-Page Crump says. “As Houston’s preservation movement has matured, the Good Brick Awards have grown in scope and prestige.”

    Reservations for the Cornerstone Dinner are available at 713-510-3990 or at PreservationHouston.org. Proceeds from the event benefit the programs and projects of Preservation Houston.

    The public is invited to visit several Gold Brick Award-winning structures during Preservation Houston's annual Good Brick Tour, this year set for May 2 and 3. Tickets for admission to every property on the tour are $25 through April 30 and $30 beginning May 1 and may be purchased online Tickets also will be sold for $10 per location at all tour stops on the days of the tour.

    Harris County, Leonel J. Castillo Community Center.

    Good Brick Awards 2015 Castillo Community Center
      
    Photo courtesy of © G. Lyon Photography
    Harris County, Leonel J. Castillo Community Center.
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    like a rock

    10 premium European stone brands arrive in Houston for the first time

    Emily Cotton
    May 16, 2025 | 2:28 pm
    Portugal Marble staircase
    Photo courtesy of Portugal Marble
    Portuguese marble is also an option for timeless elegance

    Eight Italians, a Dane, and a man from Portugal walk into Houston. No, this is not the beginning of a promising joke — far from it. For three days, a delegation of 10 European natural stone companies made the rounds to some of Houston’s top design firms, showcasing gorgeous products that have (mostly) only been available to the European market, until now. Read on for the exclusive details on which old-quarry brands will soon be popping up all over the city.

    Excitement mounts as this new age of Maximalism calls for everything these natural stone lines have to offer. From colorful pastel marbles to dramatically contrasting slabs, bold basalts, imaginative Venetian terrazzos, and timeless marble cladding options — nothing was overlooked. Yachts and aircraft aren’t left out either, with a line of lightweight aluminum honeycomb-backed stones. There is even something for the eco-conscious, with a LEED-certified product making the list of brands to finally land stateside.

    The mission was organized by Veronafiere Spa, which is also the organizer of Marmo+Mac — renowned as the world’s leading international trade fair for the natural stone industry.

    “The Chamber was proud to partner locally with Veronafiere to coordinate all the events and meetings held in Houston on May 5, 6, and 7,” Francesca Bacci, business development manager at the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce of Texas, tells CultureMap. “The main goal of the mission was to create opportunities for manufacturers to connect with top-tier industry professionals, fostering networking and business development in the strategic U.S. market.”

    Design and architecture firms Gensler, Perkins & Will, HOK, Jacobs, Intexture-Aura, Rottet Studio, and Nina Magon Design were all stops along the delegation’s tour, as well as Thorntree Slate at the Houston Design Center and the Amodo European Collection showroom at the Decorative Center. AIA Houston hosted a credit panel at their headquarters, and BeDesign hosted a luncheon with special guest and design powerhouse Abel Design Group. Houstonians with interest in these newly-available product lines will certainly know where to look.

    Without further ado, here are the ten Marmo+Mac WeSpeakStone Delegation’s European brands that are now available in Houston:

    Basaltite Guidotti Battaglini Srl
    La Basaltite is a medium-grey stone with crystals of leucite immersed in a microcrystalline structure, derived from the hardening of lava in the eruption centre of Bolsena – Bagnoregio.

    Pierangelo Umena of Basaltite shares that: “Houston and Texas can be a good market for our stone, Basaltite, because it is a natural grey stone extracted and processed exclusively at our facilities in Italy with an elegant and minimalistic neutral grey tone in great combination with white and any other colour or material.

    Cancian Pavimenti
    This legacy Venetian terrazzo brand dates back to 1840. The only LEED-certified brand on the list, this lightweight, nearly zero waste product is definitely one to watch. With numerous weight and backing options, this product can be made to suit both airplanes and yachts.

    Alina Klak, who represents Cancian Pavimenti through Marble Büro, had this to say about expanding to Houston: “As the second fastest-growing city in the nation, Houston is a dynamic and promising market for Marble Büro’s traditional Italian terrazzo.With a surge in high-end residential and commercial developments, there’s growing demand for unique, durable, and customizable surfaces. Marble Büro—representing a third-generation terrazzo company with nearly a century of family experience—brings an authentic piece of Italy to Houston, offering genuine Italian precast terrazzo tiles crafted with artisanal time-honored techniques and tailored to meet the vision of today’s architects and designers.”

    Domos
    Based in Verona’s Stone District, Domos develops marble and natural stone products. “Marble is a source of inspiration for us, and design is form, it’s function,” a representative tells CultureMap.

    Elite Stone
    Perfect for those who appreciate dramatic, yet timeless, design statements, these marbles are perfect for book-matched, full-slab installations; this is the stone for clients who enjoy striking contrasts and bold veining.

    “Houston gave me the impression of a city that unveils its charm gradually—like a well-kept secret,” sales manager Davide Sandini says. “Its true beauty isn’t loud or fleeting, but lasting and deeply appreciated by those who live there. The locals radiate pride in their surroundings, and that quiet sophistication makes Houston the perfect setting for our timeless, luxurious Italian marbles.”

    Fauske Marble by Moser Aps
    Based in Denmark, this sustainably-minded fourth generation company produces exquisite arctic marbles in colors like pinks and purples, plus many more.

    Grassi Pietre Srl
    Founded in 1850, this Nanto, Italy based touts its ability to combine “artisanal know-how with the most modern technologies available for stone processing and production.”

    Marcolini Marmi Spa
    The brand is known for its adherence to Italian taste and tradition in the areas of marble, granite, onyx, and stone.

    Moca Stone SA
    Marcelo Costa believes their warm, creamy marbles are a perfect fit for Houston: "Our natural stone materials, extracted from our own quarries and produced in our own facilities, are distinguished by their uniqueness, elegance, and luxurious appeal, making them a perfect fit for high-end residential and commercial projects across the city," a representative says.

    Porfido Trentino - Cave Famiglia Pisetta
    Thanks to a location in the middle of the Alto Adige's porphyry platform, the company offers a very large variety of porphyry products such as the cubes, irregular slabs, and tiles with split sides. In addition, it stocks other, more sophisticated materials such as steps-to-stone stairs, as well as materials with polished and flamed surfaces which are specially indicated for indoor floorings and coverings.

    R.E.D. Graniti Spa
    This exquisite marble cladding company offers monument quality stonework built to last for generations.

    With all these exciting options, Houston’s top designers and architects undoubtedly have big plans for the new products. Time will tell how they enhance design in the Bayou City for many years to come.

    Portugal Marble staircase
      

    Photo courtesy of Portugal Marble

    Portuguese marble is also an option for timeless elegance

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