“Being able to match resin based and cement based terrazzo, and use resin on timber floors seamlessly with either resin or cement based terrazzo on concrete floors means we are in a position to offer almost limitless applications for flooring.


“For architects, this enables continuity in design, without having to compromise on straightforward maintenance and durability.”


The installation team was on site in Mayfair for four weeks, working in conjunction with the team at Diespeker’s workshops and factory in Bermondsey to achieve the final result. The value of the project was £75,000.


concrete terrazzo cantilevered stairs leading to the timber floor on ground level, also with a resin based terrazzo.


The unexpected challenge for Diespeker within the project was in the manufacturing process of the cantilevered stairs, as they needed to have an identical finish to the floor. The stairs clearly needed strength for practical reasons, whilst maintaining the quality and appearance of the other features.


The initial solution was to mould the stairs in cement-based terrazzo and coat them in resin to match the floor. This was deemed an insurmountable task as, at the time of the installation, the technique for pouring resin onto vertical surfaces had not yet been perfected, although since the completion of the project further trials have been successful.


To overcome this, the Diespeker team decided to attempt to match the resin- based flooring with cement based terrazzo. This was cast using the same aggregate as the resin, and highly ground and polished. The resulting finish in cement reflected almost perfectly the finish of the floor in resin.


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A further challenge with regard to the stairs was a design feature requiring a complicated brass nosing detail to the treads. When each stair had been cast, Diespeker’s CNC was utilised to cut two grooves on each tread, connected at both ends with a half circle. Brass strips of 10 x 20mm were set into the groove as a continuous loop. The look of the impressive cantilevered stairs was enhanced by a subtle, leather- wrapped handrail.


The whole endeavour required extraordinarily high production values and, impressed by the results, the client proceeded to commission three- dimensional plinths and countertops also created from the resin based terrazzo mix, resulting in a further accentuation of the theme. Interior designer Nicholas Chandor sourced vintage furniture pieces to contrast with the clean lines of the displays.


Managing Director at Diespeker, John Krause, said: “This mix and match capacity opens up a whole new world of possibilities for our clients wanting a bespoke look for flooring, stairs and displays.


As a flooring option, resin based terrazzo can facilitate a jointless finish, giving increased aesthetic qualities for shops and galleries and, for laboratories, improved hygiene. Unlike standard terrazzo, resin based terrazzo does not require trowelling and rolling as there are minimal air bubbles to remove. Where cement based terrazzo at 20mm is relatively fragile, resin bonded to aluminium for rigidity can be laid at 10mm, and oversized lightweight countertops made by bonding to 7mm thick honeycomb rigid aluminium sheets. Diespeker has also highlighted the potential of the material if used with moulds, as with cement based terrazzo.


Over the past decade, Diespeker has contributed complex elements to the specialist resin based flooring sector, such as the treads and risers for a low gradient ramp of almost 18m in length, an unusual design combining slope and steps, and the skirting and wall strings for the University of Westminster.


The retail sector is responding with enthusiasm to the potential of bespoke terrazzo and resin based terrazzo. As well as the work carried out for J&M Davidson, Diespeker has been working with the Reiss brand for terrazzo flooring, and recently created resin based terrazzo countertops and display plinths for the new flagship store of contemporary fashion brand, Whistles. In addition, the company created an original pale blue terrazzo with white chippings, cast into countertops for the 2015 London Design Festival, and a pair of countertops in canary yellow and blue for new central London eatery, Vico.


www.diespeker.co.uk MAKEOVER OF THE MONTH | 21


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