BESPOKE PROJECTS PAST AND
Taking inspiration from a historic, bespoke methodology, D Managing Di
In general, there’s been a huge upsurge in the demand for terrazzo over the past few years but more recently the Diespeker team has been working on a range of projects using the Palladiana method. This is nothing new – Palladiana was used for pavements in Ancient Rome. However, it became popularised in the 16th century when Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio used it in the building of villas, palaces and churches.
The main difference to standard terrazzo is the larger sizes of marble pieces. Where chunks or chippings are usually sized up to 25mm, with Pallidiana they’re more likely to be 25 x 25mm and as big as 300 x 300mm. In theory they can be even larger than that – there are almost no limitations as shown in a bespoke terrazzo we created for Sri Lankan restaurant Kolamba.
Some types of Pallidiana appear as almost all ‘chunk’ and very little cement, creating a mosaic of stone which is usually irregular in shape. But they can be symmetrical, too; for another restaurant, Fucina, we set regular, rectangular shapes into the floor. Squares, and even multiple-sided shapes are possible, too.
Unsurprisingly, making a Palladiana surface is extremely time consuming and labour intensive as each chunk of stone is placed by hand. For a countertop, individual pieces are bonded into the mould and for floors, they are set in place in situ. Contrasting designs can also be created within the terrazzo, presenting a superb branding opportunity using motifs or logos.
The process has attracted clients who are keen to be hands-on with the creation of their terrazzo – not just residential clients but corporate clients as well. While
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our team was making a reception floor for an office refurbishment in London’s West End, the design company was very keen to help place the pieces of stone. They felt it gave them real ownership of the project. And when we were making a Palladiana kitchen countertop, an entire family arrived at the Diespeker factory to take part – they wrote their names on the back of the marble chunks before putting them in their final positions.
Our team enjoys pushing the boundaries to find new creative ideas and Palladiana is no exception - we have moved the concept further on to include chunks of glass or pieces of existing terrazzo in the cement for a distinctive ‘terrazzo within terrazzo’ and we’re exploring the possibilities of incorporating wood for an idiosyncratic look. Using a ‘reverse’ methodology to create a similar look, we have also updated existing marble floors by cutting shapes into the surface and pouring cement around them resulting in a unique, contemporary surface.
Palladiana style terrazzo suits Diespeker’s experience and expertise; our knowledge of the marble industry twinned with our expertise working with moulds and poured terrazzo gives us a real insight into the successful creation of surfaces that combine beauty with durability. Having our own impressive stock of marble slabs at our London premises means we can work efficiently and cost-effectively.
As well as traditional cement, Diespeker can produce Palladiana terrazzo using resin. As with all bespoke products, Diespeker will make up samples to ensure the client’s design aspirations are attained.
www.diespeker.co.uk www.tomorrowstileandstone.co.uk
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