The beauty of marble in home interiors and building construction

At Stonex’s Kishangarh facility, about a two-hour drive outside of Jaipur, marble can be found at every turn. Kiran Gala, the founder of architects and interior designer firm Kiran Gala and Associates, says, “People have realised that life’s uncertainty is definitely there, so it’s better to invest in bucket list wants now rather than delay it.” Aggarwal of Stonex says, “We have seen a phenomenal change in how conversations with consumers have evolved. Aggarwal reiterates, “Thanks to economic progression, consumer spending patterns have undergone significant changes, especially when it comes to home decor.” An affordable option There has been a rise in the use of tiles and porcelain that mimic the look of marble. “Not just the cost,” says Naik, “marble is also ecologically very expensive.” The quarrying and shipping of marble is a difficult process given its bulk and weight; cutting it is water and energy intensive and leads to waste. Average water loss per day is 1000 litres.” While it is harder for informal, hand-cut wholesalers to make changes, at Stonex, water is recycled and used in the facility as greywater, with the marble dust slurry made compact by being turned into bricks, which can then be stored or reused.