About Us
"A Legacy Shaped in Stone Since 1923"
STOWNZ is built upon a legacy of enterprise, craftsmanship, and cultural stewardship that traces back over two centuries. The Chandra family’s engagement with trade and industry dates as early as 1923, spanning fields that included agriculture, international commerce, banking, and manufacturing—activities that played a formative role in the economic fabric of pre‑independence India.
In recognition of their influence and leadership, members of the family were conferred the prestigious title of Rai Bahadur by the British Empire—an honor reserved for a select few and emblematic of authority, trust, and distinction. Rai Bahadur Seth Tara Chand later served as the Treasurer and Mayor of the city of Agra, a position he held until the era of Indian independence. The family also presided over the Calcutta Stock Exchange, then the foremost financial institution in the country.
In 1926, this legacy found its most enduring expression with the establishment of a marble works enterprise founded on principles of social responsibility and artistic patronage. Its mission extended beyond commerce: to support local artisans whose ancestors had shaped one of the world’s most revered monuments in marble—the Taj Mahal. At its height, the workshop engaged over four hundred master stone masons, producing exceptional marble works for prominent patrons, including the Viceroy of India.
Among its most celebrated creations was The Mughal Suite, commissioned for Doris Duke and James Cromwell—designed by Bloomfield Architects on the recommendation of the Viceroy of India—and now preserved as part of the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design in Hawaii.
Originally founded with philanthropic intent, the marble enterprise evolved into the family’s principal vocation and was restructured in 1980 under the leadership of Naveen Chandra. In the decades that followed, the company delivered some of India’s most prestigious architectural and bespoke stone projects, distinguished by exceptional material selection and craftsmanship.
The next generation, led by Barun Chandra, expanded this legacy onto a global stage. Today, STOWNZ serves an international clientele across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia, executing projects and supplying stone of the highest calibre to architects, designers, institutions, and private patrons worldwide.
STOWNZ today stands at the intersection of heritage and contemporary architecture—a house where stone is not treated as a commodity, but as culture, structure, and legacy. Every project is guided by restraint, precision, and a deep respect for material—values shaped over generations and carried forward into the present.
Philosophy
At STOWNZ, stone is not treated as a finish or material choice.It is approached as the beginning of architecture.Every work is guided by restraint, proportion, and permanence. We believe that true luxury is not excess, but clarity — where material, craft, and intent align without compromise. What we create is meant to endure visually, materially, and culturally.Stone is allowed to speak slowly.And architecture is given time to reveal itself.
Material Intelligence
Our expertise begins long before fabrication. Each stone is studied for its structure, depth, behavior, and long‑term performance — not only for appearance.
From marbles and rare stones to semi‑precious materials, every selection is guided by architectural suitability, light interaction, and longevity. This intelligence allows STOWNZ to translate complex ideas into material reality with precision and confidence.
Materials are not chosen for effect.
They are chosen for purpose.
Craft & Making
STOWNZ combines advanced fabrication with hand craftsmanship to achieve control, consistency, and nuance. Technology enables precision; craft brings character.
CNC carving, waterjet cutting, and inlay techniques are used not to showcase machinery, but to serve design intent — whether through sculpted mass, refined surface articulation, or intricate composition.
Every process exists to honour the material.
Nothing is produced without reason.
Design Collaboration
STOWNZ works closely with architects, designers, and private clients across the world. Our role is not to supply stone, but to collaborate in shaping architecture.
From early concept development to execution, we engage deeply with design intent — offering material guidance, technical resolution, and bespoke development. Each collaboration is approached as a shared authorship, grounded in trust and discretion.
We do not impose style.
We support vision.
Rare & One‑of‑One Works
Certain works cannot be repeated.
Beyond commissions, STOWNZ develops singular pieces that exist outside catalogues and trends. These one‑of‑one works explore material at its most expressive — through scale, technique, and composition that are never replicated.
Some of these works are shared publicly.
Others remain private.
Rarity, at STOWNZ, is intentional.
Discretion
Many of our projects are never documented.
And many clients are never named.
Discretion is integral to how we work — from private residences and estates to confidential commissions. Information, access, and visibility are carefully managed, ensuring trust at every stage of collaboration.
Not everything we do is meant to be seen.
That is by design.
A Global Perspective
While rooted in material tradition, STOWNZ works across geographies, cultures, and architectural contexts. Our understanding of stone is shaped by global projects and local sensitivity — allowing us to respond with precision rather than repetition.
Architecture changes with place.
Material understanding must do the same.
"We do not follow trends.
We work with time.
What we create is shaped by material intelligence, architectural discipline, and a belief that stone, when handled with restraint, becomes more than surface — it becomes presence."