The Timeless Beauty of Terrazzo Floors Is Sure to Complement the Aesthetic of Any Space

While you may have only recently encountered dreamy-looking interiors finished with terrazzo floors, it has been around for quite some time, and its popularity ebbs and flows. With roots tracing back as far as the ancient mosaics of Egypt, the terrazzo floors we all know and love today come from 18th-century Venice.
Even though it was first introduced to residents of the United States in the late 1890s, it only became popular in the 30 years to follow, thanks to the invention of the electric grinding machine and divider strips. Have you ever heard of a little thing called the Hollywood Walk of Fame? That right there is terrazzo in action.

Fishtank Cafe l Office AIO. © Wen Studio

What are Terrazzo Floors?

Terrazzo is a poured-in-place or precast composite material used for Terrazzo floors and wall applications. It comprises marble, quartz, granite, glass, or other appropriate material chips poured with a cementitious binder (for chemical binding), a polymeric binder (for physical binding), or a mixture of the two.
Metal strips are frequently used to split areas or to vary the color or material of a design. Before the mixture settles, you may top it with more chips. It is ground and polished smooth or otherwise treated after curing to give an evenly textured surface. The term “terrazzo” is often used to designate any pattern that resembles the original terrazzo flooring.

House in La Garriga l Isla Architects. © Luis Díaz Díaz

Different Types of Terrazzo Floors

Terrazzo installation methods include both bonded and unbonded techniques. Bonded systems comprise the following types: bonded under the bed, monolithic, chemically bonded, and the most modern, thin-set method (epoxy resin). Bonded terrazzo is laid over a sand-cement mortar under the bed on top of a concrete slab. The sand-cement layer allows for changes in the completed concrete slab.

Also Read: Polished Concrete: When Beauty, Strength, and Simplicity Converge.

Monolithic terrazzo is laid immediately on top of a perfectly flat, high-quality concrete subfloor. A concrete subfloor is not required for thin-set terrazzo. Instead, a flexible membrane can be added to prevent surface cracking. The sand cushion method, which employs wire reinforcement, an isolation layer, and sand dusting to absorb movement from the concrete slab, is one example of an unbounded approach.

Why Terrazzo?

Durability

Green buildings are centered on sustainable construction. Terrazzo floors are undoubtedly the most durable and low-cost flooring available today, making them ideal for high-traffic public access buildings such as airports, hospitals, government buildings, and schools.
Terrazzo floors have a proven track record of durability and performance stretching back over a thousand years, and these floors will often outlast the building. Terrazzo floors in older buildings may be restored to their previous shine for a fraction of the expense of replacing the finish. They are even floodproof, as we discovered during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

San Diego International Airport. © Terrazzo & Marble

Cleanliness + Maintenance

Both cement and epoxy terrazzo are excellent choices for keeping a building healthy. Terrazzo, unlike tile grout or carpet, does not encourage microbial development or allow moisture to build – all of which contribute significantly to a mold-free environment. Furthermore, terrazzo is made of low VOC components and emits little to no off-gassing during the cured floor’s life. Terrazzo floors may be cleaned simply using an environmentally friendly, neutral ph solution that will not irritate delicate eyes, lungs, or nostrils.
Patients who attend a hospital center are frequently in agony. Bumpy joints caused by tiles, bricks, and other flooring can make wheelchair or gurney transportation uncomfortable. With a walker or crutches, these joints might be challenging to negotiate. Terrazzo’s seamless surface offers patients a pleasant, silent ride or walk.

Unlimited Options

A limitless color palette and cutting-edge water jet-cutting processes combine to produce a visually spectacular hospitality setting. Logos may be readily integrated into the terrazzo floors. Color transitions and design can immediately impact visitors by reinforcing various themes or providing navigational clues throughout the building. Terrazzo is anti-microbial, non-porous, and easy to clean with a damp mop and neutral cleansers, leaving no strong scents to annoy guests.

7 Gorgeous Examples of Terrazzo Floors

Terrazzo floors add character to the home and can be used everywhere, from a house’s living room or a bathroom to a hospital, cafe, or restaurant. We’ve collected seven interiors that effectively use sturdy material for our latest lookbook.

1) Brown Box l Limdim House Studio

Terrazzo floors and surfaces, curved walls, and arching nooks all work together to create a soothing atmosphere in this property in Vietnam. The designers utilized terrazzo for the whole floor, beginning at the kitchen island and flowing outward like a fluid. The physical properties of terrazzo make it an excellent choice for tropical climates; it is durable, has a low sheen, and dissipates heat better than timber floors.

2) House B-L l GRAUX & BAEYENS Architecten

Graux & Baeyens Architecten, a Belgian firm, refurbished and expanded a farmhouse in the 1960s to make it a family residence for one of the partners. The terrazzo flooring throughout the house, especially the spacious living room, contributes to the natural color scheme and provides a lovely setting for the artwork and sculptural furnishings on display.

3) Repossi Store l OMA

Once inside the steely Parisian jewelry vault that is Repossi, it is instantly apparent that this is a store unlike any other. The spiced-up terrazzo flooring is made of foamy aluminum and resin, and the linear display cabinets are made from reflective slats that spin like high-tech shutters. The store’s walls are lined with the same industrial metal, and the ceiling is lit with LED grid lights that give off a slightly miniature vibe at their crossings.

Check OMA’s latest project: Tiffany Landmark | OMA

4) GOGUETTE AU LOUVRE l Cut Architectures

A metal screen totem, slender and exquisite in appearance, proudly proclaims the restaurant’s name from the entryway and around. The consumer is guided through the space by various natural materials, including a white-coated metal counter and a vast terracotta volume that houses refrigerators on one side and a dining area on the other—an earthy translucent terrazzo flooring caps off the whole idea.

5) parkHAUS l studioHAUS

ParkHAUS is a 7,000-square-foot ultra-modern home with an open floor concept. Semiprecious stones like quartz, jasper, and aventurine are hand-set into a cement Terrazzo floor, imparting a heavenly radiance to each room in the house. The sculpted furniture provides a striking counterpoint to the clean white walls and glistening terrazzo.

6) House in Achladies l Lydia Xynogala

Aquamarine terrazzo floors run across this breathtaking Greek villa on a slope above the sea.
By using it in her design, besides marble and plaster render, architect Lydia Xynogala intended to evoke the area’s rich heritage.

7) Green Option Food Court l Studio Ramoprimo

The concept revolves around presenting nutritious fare in a comfortable, laid-back atmosphere with plenty of sitting options for eating, lounging, and socializing. It took trained artisans over three weeks to pour the terrazzo into one piece and polish it to a gloss. Its varied stone grains and tones of gray help distinguish the many stepped and platformed spaces dedicated to the program’s various components.

Also Read: 14 of The World’s Best Modern Coffee Shops Designs You’ll Ever See.