In this interview with Ziad Chanine, founder of Australia-based CDArchitects, we discussed how marble is used in contemporary architecture as a functional, aesthetic, and structural element. Chanine emphasizes that natural stone should not be treated merely as a surface cladding but as the primary material of the design, illustrating with examples like the Barker Residence how marble defines the architectural language. Through his design philosophy, material selection processes, and advice for young architects, Chanine clearly and comprehensively demonstrates the role of natural stone particularly marble in architecture.
How would you describe CDArchitects’ design philosophy in a few sentences?
At CDArchitects, our design philosophy is grounded in clarity, simplicity, and timeless elegance. We approach every project with a contemporary sensibility that’s deeply informed by classical principles balance, proportion, and permanence. Our work seeks to elevate the human experience through refined materiality, honest form-making, and a strong response to context. Architecture, for us, is about creating enduring spaces that feel both purposeful and poetic.
How do you integrate art and architecture in your high-density residential and mixed-use projects?
In high-density and mixed-use developments, our objective is to enrich functionality with artistry infusing meaning into what are often commercially driven typologies. Every project begins with a deep understanding of place: its culture, climate, history, and urban rhythm. This foundation allows us to shape architecture that doesn’t just serve a market but contributes to the life and identity of its surroundings. We use proportion, light, rhythm, and material expression to ensure these buildings not only perform well but offer moments of delight, character, and connection within the city fabric.
How has working across different sectors influenced your perspective on design?
Over the past 26 years, CDArchitects has built a diverse portfolio across residential, commercial, hospitality, education, and community sectors. This cross-disciplinary experience has expanded our design lens and taught us the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and innovation. Each project type has its own demands, and navigating these complexities has allowed us to develop a richly layered, strategic design methodology.
With offices in Sydney and Dubai, and active projects across Australia, the Middle East, our work is constantly informed by cultural diversity and geographical nuance. We bring global insight to local conditions, shaping buildings that are both contextually grounded and internationally relevant. This combination of sectoral breadth and geographic depth gives us a unique agility and that agility underpins the quality of everything we create.
In your opinion, what is the most significant transformation currently taking place in architectural practice?
Architecture is undergoing a dual transformation: the acceleration of digital innovation and the rediscovery of human-centred, material-conscious design. Technologies such as AI, BIM, and parametric systems are reshaping how we conceptualise and deliver buildings. But just as importantly, there is a shift toward design that is rooted in authenticity, empathy, and material intelligence.
Clients and communities are seeking spaces that reflect identity and values not just efficiency. The profession is moving beyond surface-level solutions toward more thoughtful, emotionally resonant design outcomes. At CDArchitects, we embrace this evolution. We use innovation to support not replace our commitment to timelessness, craftsmanship, and architectural clarity.
How often do you incorporate natural stone into your projects, and for what purposes?
Natural stone has always been a central material in our practice. We turn to it not only for its aesthetic richness, but for its ability to anchor a design with weight, warmth, and authenticity. Whether it’s a refined marble slab or textured travertine brick, stone offers a sense of permanence and tactility that few other materials can match.
We incorporate stone wherever it adds value across facades, entries, kitchens, bathrooms, and landscaped settings. For us, stone is not decorative. It’s structural, sculptural, and deeply experiential. Used thoughtfully, it becomes an architectural language of its own telling stories through colour, grain, veining, and natural imperfection.
What value does natural stone bring to your designs in terms of aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability?
Natural stone brings a distinct and irreplaceable value to our work chiefly through its individuality. Each piece of stone is inherently unique in its veining, colouration, texture, and grain. This natural variation means that every surface we design with stone carries its own character and nuance, contributing a bespoke quality that instantly elevates the overall architectural expression.
Aesthetically, stone brings visual depth, drama, and refinement. Its tactile presence creates atmosphere whether it’s the bold veining of a Calacatta marble anchoring a living space, or the understated texture of travertine bringing calm to a bathroom or facade. It has the ability to act as both a sculptural statement and a quiet grounding element, depending on how it is applied.
Functionally, stone is incredibly robust and durable, making it ideal for both interior and exterior use. It ages beautifully, developing a rich patina over time that adds to its authenticity rather than diminishing its appeal. It doesn’t just sit on the surface it becomes part of the architecture, forming an integral layer of the spatial experience.
Ultimately, the true value of natural stone lies in the way it enhances the emotional and sensory quality of a space. At CDArchitects, we use stone to bring a sense of permanence, craft, and individuality to our projects ensuring that every design is not only visually compelling, but deeply felt and lasting.
What are the key factors that influence your decision to choose natural stone during the material selection process?
Our decision to use natural stone is always rooted in purpose. We look at how the stone supports the architectural vision its tone, grain, texture, scale, and how it interacts with light. We ask: Does it complement the spatial character? Does it reinforce the design narrative? Is it in the right place, used in the right way?
Stone can be bold or understated, dominant or subtle and selecting the right type and finish requires intuition, experience, and respect for the material. At CDArchitects, we love natural stone for the individuality it brings to every project. When chosen well, it speaks directly to the story of the building and elevates it in a way no synthetic material ever could.
Do you have a project where natural stone played a central architectural role? Could you tell us about it?
Barker Residence is a project where natural stone was not only featured, but foundational to the architecture. The external composition of the home is defined by its sculptural use of travertine, developed in close collaboration with Deemah Stone. From the outset, this wasn’t about surface treatment, it was about creating a building where stone is the architecture.
The façade is composed of curved travertine bricks, meticulously laid to form a continuous, softly contoured skin. These rounded corners, integrated arches, and cantilevered forms give the home a unique sense of movement and sculptural grace. The stone softens the mass while still anchoring the building with a grounded, monolithic quality.
Cantilevered roof planes extend the horizontal language of the design, creating dramatic overhangs that contrast beautifully with the curvature of the stone. The façade is further enriched by a material palette that balances contrast and cohesion: vertical timber elements and white plaster volumes sit against the travertine, while extruded metallic frames sharpen the detailing with a modern edge.
Throughout the day, natural light animates the stone’s surface drawing out its grain, colour shifts, and texture. The travertine doesn’t just clad the house, it defines its form, light, and spatial rhythm. While the interiors, developed in collaboration with Sici Design, continue the narrative of stone and sculptural luxury, it’s the façade that expresses the full architectural ambition of the project.
In Barker Residence, stone is structure, sculpture, and statement. It’s a project that showcases how natural stone, when used with precision and intent, can become the primary architectural voice of a building.
Finally, what advice would you give to designers or young architects, particularly those working with natural materials like stone?
Respect the material. Understand its origin, its physical properties, and its personality. With natural stone, you’re not just selecting a finish you’re selecting a story. Don’t force it into a role it doesn’t belong in. Instead, learn how to let it express itself within the context of your design.
At CDArchitects, we believe that great architecture comes from using materials with intention. Stone rewards that approach. It teaches patience, discipline, and restraint. For young architects, it’s a reminder that no two pieces are ever the same and that uniqueness is its power. Used well, stone doesn’t just enhance a space. It transforms it.
+90 532 585 51 95
+90 532 585 51 95