Stories On Design // Trending Terrazzo.

Some people have a love/hate relationship with terrazzo. Divisive as it may be, it’s ALL love around here, baby! We can’t get enough of the quirky colour combinations, the clash of materials and the sense of movement and vibrancy it brings to our built environment. Terrazzo has been around for centuries but it’s creeping back into our lives in big way. Its resurgence in popularity has seen it being used in commercial and institutional buildings to popping up in residential, hospitality and retail spaces.

Terrazzo is a composite material made by mixing marble, granite, quartz or glass chips into a cement or epoxy binder. The chips are mixed with an epoxy or cement base for strength and flexibility. After hardening, it is ground down with machinery to expose the chips and is then cleaned, sealed and waxed. Terrazzo is durable, cost effective and sustainable and will likely outlast any building that it’s installed in.

The origins of terrazzo can be traced back to 16th Century Venice when mosaic workers found a way to reuse marble remnants by taking the odd-sized chips to build terraces in their houses. Through the considerable migration of Italians to the US and other countries in the early 1900s, the terrazzo industry was introduced to the rest of the world. In the 1920s architects recognised the vast design potential of terrazzo for its smooth, curvilinear and expressive qualities and applied it to the Art Deco and Modern styles that prevailed at the time.

Terrazzo may be trending but we have a feeling it’s here to stay. With an unlimited range of colours and shapes available, it’s truly astonishing what can be created out of this humble material. For those of you still on the fence, allow us to tease you with the following tantalising terrazzo projects. These drool-worthy projects from around the world showcase the subtle and absurd ways terrazzo can be expressed and we bet you’ll find them as irresistible as we do.

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PROJECTS.

David Chipperfield’s Valentino New York Flagship Store. Photography by Santi Caleca.

David Chipperfield’s Rome Flagship Store. Photography by Santi Caleca.

David Chipperfield’s Valentino New York & Rome Flagship Store // Valentino’s flagship stores in Rome and New York by David Chipperfield combine the concept of old and new with their all consuming use of grey terrazzo and marble. The aim was to create a Palazzo atmosphere that steers away from the traditional fashion boutique in favour of a new architectural statement and retail experience.

Photography by Cyrille Weiner.

Repossi Boutique at Place Vendome Paris by OMA // Rem Koolhas’ led architecture firm OMA has designed the flagship store of high-end Italian jewellery brand Repossi on place Vendôme in Paris. At the heart of the scheme, the terrazzo staircase with it’s aluminium cladding folds over the volume and subtly expands onto each floor. Controlled splashed of perfect pink tones add the touch of femininity to this hard-edged interior. So cool, it hurts.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by studiovd.gr, Nikos Vavdinoudis & Christos Dimitriou.

New York Sweets Pastry Shops in Nicosia, Cyprus by Nimas Kosmedis // New York Sweets is a refurbished pâtisserie in Nicosia, Cyprus. Designed by the Minas Kosmidis team, the bakery is inspired by New York – its urban character, industrial landscape and iconic skyline. Heavy, marble counters and brass grids divide the minimal space and terrazzo envelopes the floor and walls. The food is displayed with reverence behind glass or inset into marble cases.

Images courtesy of Atelier Dialect.

Anne project in Brussels by Atelier Dialect // This pink terrazzo benchtop is a playful yet sophisticated element in the kitchen of a Brussels home by Atelier Dialect. The pale pink kitchen is paired back with white fittings and reflective panels and is detailed carefully. Although the shape of the benchtop and colour may seem quirky, the overall kitchen has a timeless quality to it.

Photography by © José Hevia.

Refurbishment of a Flat on the Casanova Street by Arquitectura G // When you’re onto a good thing, just go for it! You get a sense of that in this exclusively pale green apartment in Barcelona by Arquitectura G. Green terrazzo forms the floor, walls and benchtops of this apartment and is complimented by moveable green partitions and cabinetry.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Berger&Berger.

Berger&Berger’s White Concrete & Marble Interior for Collection Lambert // Architecture studio Berger&Berger has added three new structures to a pair of 18th-century French mansions, creating a larger exhibition space for the collection of gallerist Yvon Lambert. This structure was built from white concrete and has polished white marble walls and white terrazzo flooring.

Photography by Imagen Subliminal.

Paradiso Coffee Shop by Nomos // Paradiso is a coffee shop located in a converted bicycle workshop in Geneva by Nomos. The tailored composition of shapes and materials creates a unique atmosphere, reminiscent of an Italian café. Terrazzo composed of fragments of black and white Carrara and red Verona marble is used continuously for the floor and steps. A white Carrara marble counter is supported by black, slotted wooden boards that recall stone pillars. A vintage Italian chandelier made of brass, is a centrepiece providing subtle and retro lighting to the bar area.

Photography © Ioanna Roufopoulou.

Summer Residency in Kefalonia by AREA (Architecture Research Athens) // Just when you though terrazzo was only about a finer grain of materials, this Summer home in Kefalonia by AREA architects brings in the big guys! The incredible apartment floor is composed of reclaimed marble remnants salvaged by hand from a local marble yard. Over 3 cubic meters that would have been discarded have been repurposed and lovingly composed in large scale jigsaw puzzle. As a material technique traditionally used to pave makeshift outdoor spaces, the marble pieces with terrazzo infill, recall the interior courtyard of various Mediterranean housing typologies.

Images courtesy of Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. Photography by Iwan Baan, AKLK and Thatcher Cook.

THREAD: Artists Residency in Senegal by Toshiko Mori // This artists residency in south-eastern Senegal offers a diverse range of programs that will provide the people in the region with the opportunity to discover new forms of creativity and cultivate their skills. The building is constructed using local materials and local builders have shared their sophisticated knowledge of working with bamboo, brick, and thatch. These traditional techniques are combined with design innovations by architect Toshiko Mori. Broken recycled tiles used for flooring throughout the building feature changing tones that help to highlight the different functional areas.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Jovian Lim.

Odette Restaurant Singapore by Universal Design Studio // Odette by Universal Design Studio is an elegant French restaurant in Singapore’s National Art Gallery. Materials are used in simple and authentic ways, respecting their integrity and purity to create a soft and feminine space that celebrates craftsmanship. The light ambience is achieved with a soft pastel colour palette, natural oak timber, marble terrazzo with pastel pink grout, pink marble, and accents of nickel and brass. With plenty of natural light, the materials take on a lofty shine which accentuates their natural qualities.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Dmitry Tsyrencshikov.

Vizor Gaming Company HQ by STUDIO11 in Minsk, Belarus // The offices for Vizor, a game development company based in Minsk, Belarus, were designed by local design studio, STUDIO11, as an homage to the soviet era while also providing their clients with a modern and functional office. The flooring is a direct reference to the Soviet public buildings of the time. Small tiles broken apart and laid in geometric shapes, a sea of white crazy pavers, are in stark contrast to the dark and severe ceiling above. The building itself has been left brutally bare, in keeping with the building’s construction era.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Peter Krasilnikoff.

Peter’s House in Copenhagen by Studio David Thulstrup // This knockout private residence in Copenhagen is home to renowned Danish photographer Peter Krasilnikoff. The home was designed by Studio David Thulstrup who masterfully explored a material palette of concrete, terrazzo, oak timber from Dinesen, original brick work, Kvadrat textiles in rich hues and blackened steel – both plain and perforated. So good.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by © Frederik Vercruysse.

Villa Kaplansky Recently Renovated by B-Architecten // This villa located just outside Antwerp in Belgium, was originally designed by the architect Nachman Kaplansky in 1934 and was rebuilt in 1962. Fast forward to today and B-architecten have brought the house back to its former 1930’s grandeur, reinforcing the original vision Kaplansky had for the Bauhaus villa. The architects reconstructed the original steel, window frames mocking them up from original photographs and building references. Whilst the design of the interior is new, they specifically selected materials reminiscent of the 1930’s, such as travertine and terrazzo.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Mary Gaudin.

Te Koha The New Zealand Room by Knight Associates // During the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale, the New Zealand Room or Te Koha was furnished with products and material that showcase the country’s design capacity. Products such as wool, terrazzo, furniture and sustainable wood were on display.

Photography by Giorgio Possenti & Sisters Agency.

Casa in via Catone, Rome by Massimo Adario Architetto // Located in Rome, this apartment was virtually unaltered since it was built just after the unification of Italy. Instagram hashtag aside, I have this thing for floors and this apartment wholeheartedly ticks all the boxes. Who knew you could transition from various types of terrazzo flooring so well?! I’m particularly enamoured by the kitchen floor with the unbeatable colour combo of soft pink, grey, white and black.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Taschen.

Taschen Book Store in Milan // To coincide with the Salone del Mobile 2015, Taschen opened its first Italian flagship store in the historic centre of Milan, in an area known for its independent bookstores. The interior design of the Milan store is true to Taschen’s bold, eclectic spirit. The multi-roomed space features exquisite Venetian terrazzo flooring by U.S. pop artist, Jonas Wood comprising California flowers and upstairs featuring tropical vegetation in blues, greens, and yellows and outlined with brass contouring.

Images courtesy of CN10 Architetti.

17th Century Villa San Valerio Albiate, Italy with a 1950s intervention by Luigi Caccia Dominioni // Originally owned and constructed by the Airoldi family in 1640, the villa has undergone many transformations, renovations and additions. In the 19th century the Airoldi family sold the villa to the Caprotti family who oversaw the villa’s most significant intervention by Milanese architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni in the 1950s. The villa is breathtaking both inside and out. The interior consists of grey and pink marble floors, terrazzo tiles, brightly coloured stucco walls and 5 meter high wooden coiffered ceilings.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography © Yann Deret.

Saint Cloud Residence by Tristan Auer // Atelier Tristan Auer, Wilson Associates completed the renovation project of an early 20th century home in the exclusive suburb of Saint Cloud, Paris. In the terrazzo lined bathrooms, the stone and bathtub were handmade by Real Marbre using stone hand-selected by the client.

Photography © Toby Scott.

Ginger & Smart Retail Store at Pacific Fair, Gold Coast by Flack Studio // This retail experience by Flack Studio brings together a whole new brand dialogue and strategy for Ginger and Smart’s retail spaces, setting the tone for a national roll out in Melbourne and Sydney. The boutique features soft pink walls throughout and contrasting deep ‘petrol green’ walls at the rear of the space. A blend of materials includes plush carpet, luxurious curtains, marble, American Oak and coral terrazzo tiles.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Assemble.

The Brutalist Playground by Assemble & Simon Terrill // Architecture collective Assemble teamed up with British artist Simon Terrill to create full-size foam replicas of playground designs from architecture’s Brutalist era at the Architecture Gallery at RIBA, London. Visitors were welcome to climb on the pastel pink, blue and green terrazzo-looking objects, which formed stairs, slopes, platforms and a slide.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Yongjun, Choi.

Endpiece: Super Cool Optician’s Store in Seoul, South Korea by WGNB // Endpiece is an optical store in Seoul, South Korea, designed by WGNB which features a hyper-scale chunky knitted wall. Terrazzo floors and plinths support display joinery in lacquered grey, yellow and pastel green.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos.

Greek Island Home by Lydia Xynogala // This house in Achladies along the Greek island’s Aegean coast, is built on a slope using retaining walls to compose the backbone of the home’s three sections. Architect Lydia Xynogala aimed to draw upon the history of the region with use of terrazzo, marble and plaster render throughout the home. Applying these traditional materials to contemporary spaces, and in unusual colours, sets the house apart from others on the island.

Photography © Normann Copenhagen.

Normann Copenhagen’s Shiny Flagship Store // Following a comprehensive renovation, Normann Copenhagen has opened the doors of its spectacular new showroom at Østerbrogade 70 in the Danish capital. The showroom space is a celebration of all things colour, texture and shine, topped with impeccable styling. The interior features brushed steel walls, vibrant acrylic plinths, lively terrazzo surfaces and delicious colour combination that will make anyone’s heart beat faster. A conceptual and theatrical space, the showroom feels more like an art exhibition than a retail/ commercial showroom.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of .Tokujin Yoshioka.

Issey Miyake Milan by Tokujin Yoshioka // When designing Issey Miyake’s flagship store in Milan, Tokujin Yoshioka faced the important challenge of respecting the building’s historic features. This led to most of the building’s original features being left untouched. The result is the perfect combination between old and new, where a dialogue between the terrazzo floors and original ceilings are imposed throughout the visit.

Photography © Frederik Vercruysse.

‘Victor’ Café at Fine Arts Centre in Brussels by Robbrecht and Daem // Located in the Bozar Arts Centre in Brussels, this renovated café/ restaurant was named ‘Victor’, after the Belgian art-deco architect, Victor Horta, who designed the original building in 1928. The choice of materials and interior elements are an ode to the building’s historical context. These are not copies of Horta’s ideas, but rather a reminder of him. The dark-green granite and the dark-green leather sofas are, for example, a tribute to the green linoleums and the terrazzo that Horta himself had already integrated.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Brooke Holm.

Penny Drop Café in Melbourne by We Are Huntly // The Penny Drop Café in Melbourne’s Box Hill by We Are Huntly, sits at the base the new Australian Tax Office building, cheekily playing on the concept of the ‘penny dropping’ from the pockets of the ATO office above. There is a lot to love about this gorgeous interior – curving geometries, tactile surfaces, terrazzo and granite, art deco light fittings, copper accents, and a perfect palette of soft pastels offset with natural materials. Each corner appears to deliver a different mood, yet everything comes together seamlessly and effortlessly.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of WeWork Co.

WeWork Co Working Space // Shanghai studio Linehouse has transformed a former opium factory with green-painted metalwork and pastel-coloured terrazzo to create the Chinese flagship for co-working company WeWork. Completed in 2016, the five thousand five hundred square meters space is altogether playful, modern and respectful of the heritage of its ancient location.

Photography by Carola Ripamonti.

“History Repeating” Apartment in Turin, Italy by Marcante-Testa (UdA Architects) // This apartment in Turin is comprised of finely detailed custom joinery made from an array of eccentric materials. The kitchen is made of teak wood, metallic structure, brass laminate and lacquered wood cabinets. The contrasting colours of the seminato or sown floor guides you through the apartment highlighting different furnishings and areas of activity.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Kitchen for a Madrid Creative Space.

Kitchen for a London Apartment.

Maison Kitsune Filles Du Calvaire Paris.

Bathroom for a Paris Apartment.

Pair of bathrooms in New York Residence, using Marmoreal Terrazzo by Max Lamb.

Various projects featuring Marmoreal by Max Lamb for Dzek // British designer Max Lamb has developed a multicoloured engineered material Marmoreal for Dzek that has been used in a number or projects all over the world including Paris, New York and London. The product can be applied in small doses such as on a benchtop in a London apartment or it can completely engulf a room and camouflage the items within it.

Marmoreal is offered in two colourways, one with a white background the other black. Each version is composed of four classical Italian marbles and is a material exploration that celebrates the individual qualities of these stones.

Chemically, marmoreal is an engineered terrazzo, but one that has been filtered through Lamb’s distinctive sensibilities. Accordning to Lamb, “There is a contrast with terrazzo. Marmoreal is much more of a producible product available for sale, rather than a service.”

PRODUCTS.

Lamps, tables and chairs are brought to life thanks to the boundless design opportunities that terrazzo presents. This is captured in the wild furniture collections of Max Lamb, Another Brand, Bentu Design and Carly Jo Morgan to name a few. Below is a selection of some of our favourite products that feature terrazzo as their hero material.

Images courtesy of Dzek.

Marmoreal furniture by Max Lamb for Dzek // Back at Marmoreal ranch, Max Lamb developed a series of six furniture pieces designed to showcase the product’s versatility and capability, launched during Milan Design Week 2015. We dig.

Images courtesy of Another Brand.

Primo Terrazzo Table Collection by Another Brand // Designed by Theo Williams for UK-based Another Brand, Primo Terrazzo Tavolini are manufactured in London, and are available in a choice of different heights and diameters, suitable for use in a dining room, living room, office, bedroom or hall.

Photography by Stefano Bellamoli.

Collecta by Alberto Bellamoli // This range of objects and furniture pieces brings a new perspective on Terrazzo. The collection is composed of 2 coffee tables, 4 bowls and 4 candles. We think it’s love!

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Mariah Wynn.

Terrazzo Collection by Carly Jo Morgan // LA-based artist Carly Jo Morgan creates hand made terrazzo furniture and lighting pieces in pink and black, with playful brass a powder-coated inlays. Morgan strives to create beauty that inspires connection, humour and most importantly – love. Which is precisely how we feel about her work.

Photography by Jeroen van der Wielen.

Trending Terrazzo By Bottle-Up // Bottle-Up has launched a series of glass terrazzo objects, made from recycled glass waste from Zanzibar. See more about this remarkable project here.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Ivanka.

QTZ Concrete Edition by Alexander Lotersztain & Ivanka // Originally designed by Brisbane-based Alexander Lotersztain in polished stainless steel, the QTZ range was inspired by the naturally occurring forms and crystallisation process of quartz. Lotersztain teamed up with concrete brand Ivanka who reinterpreted the original design of the chair in a new material for Miami Design Week 2016.

Images courtesy of Studio Ossidiana.

Petrified Carpets by Studio Ossidiana // Dutch designers Studio Ossidiana reinterpreted traditional Persian carpets as a series of concrete pieces dubbed ‘Petrified Carpets’. Studio Ossidiana approached concrete as a crafted material, like weaving or knitting, exploring it’s expressive potential which has progressively been lost in the construction industry.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Besler & Sons.

Terrazzo Home Accessories by Besler & Sons // Designed and handmade by Los Angeles based practice Besler & Sons, each “Prop” can be used in multiple ways; as bookends, doorstops, paperweights, serving platters or simply as accents for home decor. Featuring a custom blend of coloured glass and marble chips which are added to a cement mixture and cast in one of four distinct moulds: The Classic Wedge, The Personal Pan Pizza, The Soupcan, and The Snubnose Wedge. After curing overnight, the hardened terrazzo is ground by hand to expose a smooth polished layer of colourful glass, marble and cement.

Image courtesy of Brodie Neill.

Limited-Edition Gyro Table by Brodie Neill // This limited edition table is made from fragments of recycled ocean plastic inlaid to achieve the terrazzo effect. Designed by Brodie Neill for Australia’s entry into London Design Biennale 2016, the table wasn’t made from the traditional mix of marble and granite chips, but rather of a smooth composite inlaid with thousands of tiny bits of recycled waste.

Images courtesy of Rooms.

Terrazzo Tables by Georgian Design Studio Rooms // Launched during Milan Design Week 2017, these geometric terrazzo tables by Rooms were some of our favourite new products shown at Rossana Orlandi design gallery in Milan. Did someone mention circles?

Images courtesy of Terrazzo Project.

Terrazzo Project // With a tag line ‘Reclaiming The Unnoticed, Lausanne-based Terrazzo Project (TP) focuses on creating tailor-­made terrazzo furniture. Since 2011, TP has been developing various processes fusing modern­ day technology and traditional craftsmanship, exploiting terrazzo as a lightweight material. In spite of its ubiquity, terrazzo remains a largely unknown material: it is everywhere, yet no one notices. This is precisely what fuelled TP’s interest in reclaiming such and ancient and unexpected material.

Images courtesy of Bentu Design.

Terrazzo Furniture by Bentu Design // Chinese studio Bentu Design collected leftover tiles, then crushed them to create Ceramics Made collection of speckled terrazzo-style furniture and lighting. The collection features elegant thin profiles achieved through the development of thin but sturdy ceramic composite product. See more of Bentu Design’s concrete lights in our article here.