Natural stone has been used as a building material for centuries, yet in modern architecture it has largely been reduced to surfaces and decorative applications. The New Stone Age challenges this development, examining how stone can once again be understood as a resource, a structural material and an integral part of architecture.

Drawing on stone’s structural properties, longevity and connection to place, the seminar explores how natural materials can play a greater role in addressing today’s climate and resource challenges. Topics including extraction, transportation, standardisation, structural applications and reuse will be central to the discussion.

Contributors include Groupwork Architects, Webb Yates Engineers, The Stonemasonry Company, Studio Widerøe, Martin Hopland, Eladio Ramm and Transborder Studio.

The Finchley Road project in London, designed by Groupwork Architects and constructed using Larvikite from Lundhs, will serve as a key reference for the discussion on how natural stone can be used in new and innovative ways in contemporary architecture.

The seminar will also include the presentation Varig Larvikitt by Martin Hopland and Magnus Widerøe.

The New Stone Age is part of Oslo Architecture Triennale 2026, which this year asks the question “What if nature comes first?” and explores how architecture and urban development can be shaped within the limits of nature.

The New Stone Age
Friday, 18 September 2026
16:00–19:00
The Sofienberg Church, Oslo

Registration for The New Stone Age will open soon. Stay tuned for more information.