Material Focus: Terrazzo
To the untrained eye, terrazzo may appear to be just another common material. Dig deeper, however, and you’ll uncover a technique that predates the invention of the wheel by more than 4,000 years.
In this material focus, we explore the ways this enduring composite continues to reinvent itself for the modern era.
Rich in History
Dating back thousands of years, terrazzo is thought to have first emerged in the Middle East, in or around modern-day Turkey, with early examples uncovered at archaeological sites in Pompeii and Herculaneum, among others. The terrazzo we recognise today originated in 16th-century Italy, where Venetian artisans devised a way to reuse discarded marble offcuts, levelling and smoothing the surface by hand using heavy stones.
This is a far cry from the machine-made surfaces we are familiar with today, though the overall aesthetic has changed remarkably little over the past 500 years.
Featured project: Surrey Mount
Points of Difference
In the context of a kitchen, terrazzo offers several distinct advantages. Whether used as a worktop, backsplash, or both, the aggregate surface introduces variation and texture that feels completely unique.
Differences in chip size, colour and density allow designers to create schemes that range from bold and expressive to restrained and understated.
Featured project: Alconbury Road
Base Notes
The base tone of the terrazzo is one of the most important considerations when defining the overall feel of a space. Paler bases such as off-whites, soft greys and muted pinks create a fresh and bright aesthetic, combining well with warm woods and coloured laminates. Darker bases, meanwhile, lend themselves to moodier interiors, where carefully placed accents of colour create greater contrast and impact. For our recently launched Essex Road project, the Dzek Marmoreal worktops create a rich backdrop and pull the various colours together in a unified palette.
Whether pale or dark, the flecks and chips within the terrazzo help tie surrounding materials together while providing a distinct visual focal point.
Featured project: Dalston Lane
An Evolving Material
The technique of combining material fragments and offcuts to create a new surface is no longer confined to marble and stone. In recent years, innovative manufacturers have begun incorporating wood chips, recycled plastic and other waste materials into contemporary terrazzo-style composites.
Companies such as Low Carbon Industrial (formerly Foresso) are developing surfaces that blend traditional craftsmanship with more sustainable approaches to material reuse.
Featured projects: Clarkston Road & Pendennis
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