The revival of terrazzo tiles
Contemporary terrazzo tiling for public spaces
April 12, 2019The revival of terrazzo tiles is one of the biggest trends in tiling and stonework, as well as in architecture and design more widely, over the last few years. London Design Week in 2017 showed the amazing variety, versatility and aesthetic power of terrazzo, and its popularity has only kept growing since then.
K-06 and SA-859 - Indoor terrazzo tile
Indoor terrazzo tiles K-06
Indoor terrazzo tiles SA-859
Terrazzo tiles first flourished in the early twentieth century, and were particularly popular during the Art Deco and Moderne movements. The introduction of polymer-based terrazzo in the 1970s brought a resurgence in popularity, as the new techniques allowed more colour choices, lighter and more delicate tiles and slabs, quicker and more convenient installation, and improved strength and durability, particularly against cracking. However its popularity fell away again in the 1980s, and it is only now truly being appreciated once more.
St Peter’s Basilica in Rome is one of the largest and most famous churches in the world, and the centre of the Catholic religion. It is an incredible artistic and architectural feat and sight, but the use of terrazzo in its design and construction is often overlooked. Michelangelo used terrazzo tiles to create a remarkable decorative pattern across the whole floor of this monumental building, and it is one of the first uses of terrazzo on this sort of scale in the world.
SA-363 and SA-907 - Indoor terrazzo tile
Indoor terrazzo tiles SA-363
Indoor terrazzo tiles SA-907
Hollywood walk of fame
One of the most famous sights in Hollywood, even in America as a whole! Every individual celebrity’s star is crafted from terrazzo tiling.
Terrazzo tiling
Mount Vernon
In the early days of the United States of America, marble was widely used in constructing the many monuments and statues of the emerging nation. This meant terrazzo was both popular and widely available. George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, used terrazzo tiles for flooring, and the popularity of terrazzo led to a great many advances and improvements in its use.
St Peter’s Basilica
St Peter’s Basilica in Rome is one of the largest and most famous churches in the world, and the centre of the Catholic religion. It is an incredible artistic and architectural feat and sight, but the use of terrazzo in its design and construction is often overlooked. Michelangelo used terrazzo tiles to create a remarkable decorative pattern across the whole floor of this monumental building, and it is one of the first uses of terrazzo on this sort of scale in the world.
Bing Concert Hall, Stanford University
A rather more modern example, the new Bing Concert Hall at Stanford University used terrazzo flooring to blend the inside and the outside, and create a sense of the outdoors entering the building. This helped with the overall effect of the building which strives to reimagine traditional ideas of courtyard and terrace architecture and design.
Heidelberg Castle
Swiss architect Max Dudler created a new restaurant inside an old stable in Heidelberg Castle. Terrazzo was the perfect material for this sort of project, maintaining the links with the original walls and ancient feel of the castle architecture, while still being modern and functional. The terrazzo flooring has an elegant simplicity which compliments the atmosphere of the castle overall.
Terazzotto
Terrazzo tiles have been used in some of the grandest, most beautiful and most culturally significant buildings in the world, and these days are appreciated by architects and designers worldwide for their combination of elegance, durability and versatility. Terazzotto’s blend of ancient traditions and modern styles are perfect for large scale design projects where the simplicity, beauty and functionality of terrazzo tiles are needed.
Terrazzo tiling
Indoor terrazzo tiles SA-627
Indoor terrazzo tiles SA-500
