Terrazzo (Italian for “terrace”) has an interesting origin rooted in the 15th century. It was originally invented by Venetian construction workers as a low cost flooring material using marble chips from upscale jobs. The workers would usually set them in clay to surface the patios around their living quarters. Consisting originally of marble chips, clay, and goat milk (as the sealer), production of terrazzo became much easier after the 1920s and the introduction of electric industrial grinders and other power equipment.

Terrazzo Grinders & Finishers Up To 1920

Terrazzo is a composite material, poured in place or precast, which is used for floor and wall treatments. It consists of marble, quartz, granite, glass, or other suitable chips.Terrazzo is cured and then ground and polished to a smooth surface.


Many of the Palladian country houses and villas in the areas around Venice and Vicenza had floors in terrazo laid by local craftsmen. Practitioners became more in demand and in the 18th and 19th centuries the "terrazzieri", as they were known, began emigrating throughout Europe and all over the world.








The beauty and versatility of terrazzo offers today's architects/designers a contemporary flooring and wall material for interior and exterior design use. 






Couleurs et Matières is a French manufacturer of terrazzo and cement tiles.
Couleurs et Matières's founders fell in love with this material, a never ending source of inspiration.
They brought this traditional material into more modern and contemporary patterns.

Terrazzo tiles from Couleurs et Matières:


2 Comments

  1. amazing material of walls and floors. I want to install that stone which you have given in first column and second row in my kitchen. I want your advise that which color of paint should I get for my kitchen for perfect combo of this stone?

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