“The beauty of a home is in its character”
Terrazzo in history
From te ancient mosaics of Egipt to the 19th century’s Venetian pavement and the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, Terrazzo design has been a unique and attractive option for floors and not only. Very popular in the 1920’s, terrazzo’s unique characteristics have led to a modernisation of the process over the years. In the late 20th century, up until recently terrazzo has not been so much in the spotlight. However, artisans and artists all over the world have brought terrazzo back to live in home decor, tiles, kitchen items, even jewellery. In the last few years we have seen an explosion of creativity around terrazzo design, with walls, floors, all in amazing colourful terrazzo.
What is Terrazzo?
Terrazzo is a composite material, poured in place or precast, which is used for floor and wall treatments. It consists of chips of marble, quartz, granite, glass, or other suitable material, poured with a cementitious binder (for chemical binding), polymeric (for physical binding), or a combination of both. Metal strips often divide sections, or changes in color or material in a pattern. Additional chips may be sprinkled atop the mix before it sets. After it is cured it is ground and polished smooth or otherwise finished to produce a uniformly textured surface. "Terrazzo" is also often used to describe any pattern similar to the original terrazzo floors.
Here, at Ana Barroso Porto
Today, we have all kinds of materials to build and design with, however the process is still laborious and 100% artisanal. Every piece is unique, and created in its specific unique way. From finding the materials, to pouring the composition into the mould, the whole process is enjoyed and carefully planned.
I use eco-friendly materials, such as ceramic plaster, Jesmonite and eco-concrete mixed with crushed shells stones, marble or wood.
From the very beginning of the process, a piece could take anywhere from 4 to 5 days to a week.
Each piece is sanded and sealed with a waterproof sealer. All done by hand, and with minimal waste.
Through my work I am always trying my best to bring a unique piece of Portugal's natural beauty into your home.
My terrazzo pieces give character to any home, office, meeting place, etc.. They can be custom made, with your desired colour tones to suit your interior. The imperfect finish of the product ads to the artisanal nuance and beauty of each piece.
Love,
Ana x