The art of paving patterns
Calpinage is something we don’t talk about here in the United States. Maybe that’s because we don’t have a corresponding word. We could say “paving patterns”, but that just doesn’t sound nearly as cool. Calpinage is the art of laying out hardscape patterns, turning boring alleys and streets into texturally interesting spaces. It can direct, delineate, define and decorate – guiding people down or across a street.
Yes, that is a duck-herding dog. No image editing involved, either (other than cropping) – that dog is truly an expert duck herder.
It’s kind of an ignored art here in California, and every designer who wishes to think about hardscape should make a pilgrimage to France or another European city to study nothing but paving patterns. Think of it as akin to an apprentice baker going to France to learn the art of bread. It’s a skill set that often comes in very useful – just think of all the plain asphalt and concrete in European themed projects in the USA that really don’t look or feel all that European. They lack proper calepinage!
We’ve used porphyry on a project, and although there was a bit of initial hesitation over the “new” material, once everyone saw samples it was accepted. Once it was installed, it was impressive and unique – for Sacramento, at least – as you can see below.
Calepinage can transform an ordinary patio into something wonderful.This paving surrounds a fountain in a highly visible area. Three main French doors open directly onto this patio, so it needed to be something special for maximum “wow” factor.
Here’s another example of calepinage used in a small space. Although it uses the same stone mosaic as above, the look is entirely different. The rusty metal bands are actually drains, and the remainder of the paving is scored colored concrete.
