Entry forms are now available for the 2008 Natural Stone Awards, the 14th organised by the Stone Federation Great Britain. These are the most prestigious awards available to those who work with stone, whether they are specifying, supplying or building.

Entries have to be submitted to the federation by April 25.

The 2008 awards are divided into five different categories. They are: new build (both load-bearing stone and modern, non load-bearing stone), repair and restoration, interiors, landscaping and craftsmanship. Projects of any size will be considered in every category.

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The awards showcase projects, large and small, that have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in both design and execution.

Chief Executive of the Stone Federation, Jane Buxey, said: "These awards are universally acknowledged as highly prestigious and they celebrate the use of this attractive, traditional, yet vitally modern building material. Our members, and the architects and designers they work with, know it is a wonderful way in which to get their work recognised as being of the very highest standards.

"The judging panel of internationally renowned architects will work on the premise that for successful design there should be sympathy of scale to any surrounding building or feature and, in continuous street frontages, a relationship to any marked general horizontal or vertical pattern.

"They will look for an understanding of the requirements of stone detailing and weathering to give a clean and minimum maintenance building or landscape development. Additionally they will be looking for innovative use of stone in all entries, while placing great importance will be given to the overall quality of the work undertaken."

(CD/JM)