| Arban History & Tradition |
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The Arban family tradition began in Italy during the late 1800's when the family became one of the most prominent pioneers of the precast concrete industry in Europe. In the early 1900's, Silvio Arban, Mark's grandfather, moved his cast stone company from Italy to Germany to work on prestigious contracts.
At the time architectural trends were just beginning to modernize and tastes preferred the ornate structures. Arban specialized in the fabrication of simulated marble and limestone, precast terrazzo, mosaics, and precast concrete.
Precasting, which is casting stone off site in a shop, has always been part of the mosaic, terrazzo and simulated stone industry. Many examples of precast concrete and precast mosaics are traced back before the renaissance.
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The display by Silvio Arban, showcases different finishes. It won first prize in the 1913 International Fair in Liepzig, Germany, the most prestigious industrial show of it's day in Europe.
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Made by Silvio Arban
Circa 1912
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In 1914, Silvio Arban received a patent for hollow core precast concrete panel design. He was an influential pioneer in the stone industry. In 1923, the family left Europe to join another branch of the family already involved in the Washington D.C. building boom of the 1920's. Many monuments were being built in the nation's capitol.
Mark's father, Peter, worked for his father Silvio, until he opened his own precast stone company. As his father had done before him, Mark got his training from his father, like so many generations before him.
Mark Arban started his own precast stone business in Alexandria, Va. in the 1960's. It has grown dramatically in the last several decades. So from it's roots in Italy to Germany to America, the Arban family has been a pioneer of quality precast stone. |
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