“Gris Mondariz” in architecture

The “Gris Mondariz” variety of granite is extracted from a specific area in the O Porriño Mountain Range (O Porriño – Monçao Mountain Range), and surfaces around 25km in a north-south direction between the provinces of Ourense, Pontevedra and northern Portugal. This factor determines that the constructions made with this material or interventions made to those already in existence are consideredas unique and unrepeatable works, given that there are no other quarries in the world with the “Gris Mondariz” variety.

The main materials comprising this rock are alkaline feldspars, which provide the pinkish colour to the stone and achieve greater development, transparent grey quartz, milky white plagioclase and black biotite

The following examples, among others, are some applications of “Gris Mondariz” in architecture:

Façades: the chromatic range of this stone favours integration with natural environments and established historical urban areas.
-Ventilated façades: its resistance to bending and durability favour the application of “Gris Mondariz” for ventilated façade panels.
There are representative examples of façades constructed entirely with this material, such as the Building that is home to the “Xunta de Galicia” (Galicia Regional Government) in Vigo (granite fig. 1) and on a housing building in Pontevedra (granite fig. 2).

“Gris Mondariz” is an ideal variety to use on façades combined with other artificial materials such as glass, cement or steel, given the chromatic complementarity between greyish glass, pale pinks and similar materials.
We highlight the works of the “Auditorio Palacio de Congresos Mar de Vigo” (granite fig. 3) and the “Edificio de Aliviaderos” in the basin of Barbaña in Ourense (granite fig. 4).

-Supporting walls: the compression resistance of the stone makes it an extremely firm and consistent material for its use in supporting walls.
A façade comprising a coastline of “Gris Mondariz” and concrete blocks was designed in the vice chancellor’s office at the University of Vigo, providing a contemporary aesthetic by using material which needed minimum preparation at the factory.

Pavements: the increased robustness of “Gris Mondariz” allows the application of several surface finishes, optimising slipperiness for its application in pavements. The investment costs are offset by the low maintenance costs and its long useful life.

– Paving stones: its resistance to bending and low open porosity optimise its durability and favour its performance against ageing.
– Cobblestones: granite’s high resistance to compression makes it an ideal material for its use in cobblestones.
The Vigo Sea Museum (granite fig. 6) represents a unique architectural work in “Gris Mondariz”, as it was used in the paving stones, cobblestones, façade panels and the building’s supporting walls.

“Gris Mondariz” has not only stood out due to its use in new construction works, as there are also rehabilitation works in which the material has constituted the link that has allowed the uniformity of pre-existing architectures and new construction works.
An example of this is the exterior pavement used at the Contemporary Art Museum in Vigo (granite fig. 7).