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Blacknest Park Lakeside Home – Natural Stone Case Study

The Challenge

 

In today’s construction landscape, architects and specifiers must aim to meet client ambitions while delivering on ever-tightening environmental targets. The choice of materials, therefore, is crucial. At Blacknest Park in Ascot, a striking new lakeside residence designed by Oliver Steels of ERRAND Studio, the decision to build with natural stone from Stamford Stone Company proves that sustainability and design excellence can coexist in harmony.

Blacknest Park is located in a sensitive setting: beside a lake, surrounded by protected woodland. The goal? To integrate rather than impose. Inspiration came from the distinctive “dog-tooth” stonework at Ripon College’s Bishop Edward King Chapel.

The Aesthetic Outcome

Stamford Stone supplied around 250 m³ of Clipsham limestone, including 135 m³ of architectural masonry for external walling, heads, cills, and finial jambs. Advanced CNC cutting produced naturally coursed stonework, while internally, bespoke limestone flooring and tiles completed the scheme.

The success of Blacknest Park lies in blending advanced manufacturing with time-honoured craftsmanship. A six-axis Marchetti CNC machine allowed ERRAND Studio’s intricate stone detailing to be realised with precision and minimal waste. Yet the finished building retains the tactile warmth and subtle variation only achievable with a natural material.

“From the outset, we wanted the house to feel integrated with its setting, not imposed on it. Natural stone gave us that authenticity–every piece is unique, yet together they form a coherent whole. Working with Stamford Stone meant we could push design boundaries while knowing the material was responsibly sourced and sustainably managed.”

Architect Oliver Steels comments:

The Sustainable Difference

Stamford Stone owns and operates the two Clipsham Limestone quarries on the Lincolnshire Oolitic belt, providing direct control over extraction, processing, and delivery. This short supply chain significantly reduces embodied carbon: over 95% of material travels less than 20 miles from quarry to processing plant.

Rainwater is harvested and recycled on site, and all by-products are reused–whether as aggregates, lime dust for agriculture, or other secondary applications. Once a quarry’s working life is complete, sites are restored and replanted to blend back into the rural landscape.

“It’s always a joy to be involved in a project that pushes the boundaries of design and creativity. Blacknest Park was truly one of a kind, resulting in unique design features. But it also embodies our sustainability mission–proving that natural stone can be both beautiful and environmentally responsible.”

Dan Wilson, Director at Stamford Stone, reflected on the company’s ethos:

Embodied Carbon and Life-Cycle Advantage

The environmental performance of natural stone has often been under-acknowledged, but recent data strengthens the case. Stamford Stone has completed a full Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) on its Clipsham limestone. The results are impressive: a total Global Warming Potential (GWP) of just 3.59E+01 (kg CO₂e/m²).

This is over 30% lower per kilogram than aluminium, brick, and concrete cladding. Where concrete or engineered stone must be replaced or maintained within decades, Clipsham limestone has a service life measured in centuries.

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) reinforces this advantage. With minimal processing requirements, low transportation emissions, and long-term durability, natural stone consistently outperforms synthetic alternatives in cradle-to-grave evaluations. The high thermal mass of limestone also contributes to operational energy savings, reducing heating and cooling loads, which further improves the whole-life carbon profile of buildings.

In the End, Natural Stone Endures

Blacknest Park Case Study | Blacknest Park is more than a striking lakeside home. It’s also a blueprint for sustainable architecture. By choosing natural stone, ERRAND Studio and Stamford Stone have demonstrated that environmental responsibility can enhance, not limit, design quality. Clipsham limestone weathers gracefully, requiring minimal maintenance, and its structural and aesthetic qualities remain intact for centuries.

For clients, this means reduced replacement costs and lower life-cycle carbon emissions. For architects, it offers confidence that their design vision will endure. Blacknest Park is indeed a powerful case study in how natural stone truly stands the test of time.