KA Z A T E R R A ZZO story | process | collection
T E R R A Z ZO
The historical predecessor of terrazzo, known as Venetian terrazzo, is a composite flooring material that had been used in Italian architecture several hundred years ago. Leftover marble pieces were placed in clay or lime glue and were grinded flat to produce a durable walking surface. The addition of different sized marble chips to the mixture resulted in aesthetically intriguing surfaces that, combined with the material’s exceptionally high resistance to wear, gained popularity throughout the centuries.
T E R R A Z ZO
The production of concrete terrazzo as we know it began at the end of the 19th Century when the industrial application of concrete started. With cement as a binding agent, the terrazzo mixture could be poured in moulds of different shapes and sizes. The success of the material largely depended on the trends in European architecture. Art Deco and Futurism influenced the ornaments and patterns of terrazzo floors and the material became closely associated with residential architecture of the 1950s and 1960s where it was a favourite in flats and villas.
T E R R A Z ZO
Over the past few years, terrazzo has made a big comeback in interior architecture due to:
/ newly
discovered
methods
and
products used to protect terrazzo surfaces from stains / the availability of precast, grinded terrazzo panels that do not need in situ grinding / the aesthetic versatility offered by the vast array of available decorative stones and colouring options.
PROCESS
While state of the art technological advancements are used to produce terrazzo of the highest quality, it still remains a handmade product consisting of natural, sustainable ingredients. The manual production of precast KAZA terrazzo tiles allows craftsmen to pay attention to the slightest details during manufacture.
PROCESS Composition
The body of terrazzo is created by mixing natural stones and minerals such as marble chips, ground basalt, pieces of granite or glass with Portland cement and natural oxide pigments that give the base colour its hue and saturation. The admixture is formed by moulds that define the final shape of the panels.
PROCESS Grinding
The distinctive terrazzo surface that exposes the crosssection of aggregates within the concrete mixture is obtained through a specific process of grinding and polishing. In the first step, a low grit abrasive is used to remove the thin layer of cement that covers the aggregates, revealing the largest possible cross-section of the aggregates. Following this, an abrasive with higher grit is used to remove scratches left by the grinding process. Afterwards, the terrazzo surface is polished with a very fine abrasive in order to maximise durability and aesthetics. Using polishing categorized according to grit size makes it possible to create a perfectly smooth, shiny and resistant surface.
PROCESS Treatment
As a final step the polished surface is treated with a water-based or solventbased sealer to completely protect against stains and to enhance the natural colours and textures of the concrete and the aggregates. KAZA terrazzo tiles and panels can also be ordered in their semi-finished state for in situ grinding and polishing.
CO L L E C T I O N
marble
granite
The soul of terrazzo lies in the choice of aggregates and their combinations. The KAZA Terrazzo collection is the result of extensive research and experimentation in colour and aggregates.
basalt
CO L L E C T I O N
T01
Base colour: Hello Eternity 20% Siena marble 9-12 mm 20% Red granite 5-8 mm
T02
Base colour: Marine Muse 20% Palermo marble mix 8-12 mm 20% Black basalt 9-12 mm
CO L L E C T I O N
T03
Base colour: Advanced Serum 20% Red granite 5-8 mm 20% Alpen marble mix 16-25 mm
T04
Base colour: Illuminating Solitude 20% Black basalt 9-12 mm 20% Red granite 5-8 mm
CO L L E C T I O N
T05
Base colour: Poetic Union 20% Alpen marble mix 12-16 mm 20% Gold ochre marble 9-12 mm
T06
Base colour: Seethrough Nature 14% Palermo marble mix 8-12 mm 11% Siena marble 9-12 mm 14% Carrara marble 8-12 mm
CO L L E C T I O N
T07
Base colour: Seascape Allure 11% Palermo marble mix 8-12 mm 14% Black basalt 9-12 mm 14% Carrara marble 8-12 mm
T08
Base colour: Surreal Resonance 20% Alpen marble mix 12-16 mm 20% Venice marble mix 12-16 mm
CO L L E C T I O N
T09
Base colour: Velvet Serenity 20% Red granite 5-8 mm 20% Red marble 8-12 mm
T10
Base colour: Total Eclipse 20% Carrara marble 8-12 mm 20% Venice marble mix 12-16 mm
T E C H N I C A L D E TA I L S The KAZA Terrazzo collection includes standard sized panels and three special shapes that can be assembled to form a playful pattern. Moreover, bespoke shapes and sizes are available upon request. All terrazzo panels have a standard thickness of 20 mm. 199 x 400 mm
199 x 400 mm
400 x 400 mm
400 x 601 mm
226 x 400 mm
601 x 601 mm
802 x 1204 mm
BESPOKE
Each architectural space is unique. Limiting the range of KAZA terrazzo surfaces would mean standing in the way of our own commitment. Curiosity and artistry are the driving forces behind KAZA’s aim to find the most suitable concrete surface for every individual project through research and experiments.
Variable parameters: thickness
size
shape
colour
Case study: variations on black and white
aggregate
treatment
REFERENCES
KAZA Terrazzo T10 panels
REFERENCES
KAZA Bespoke Terrazzo tiles
REFERENCES
KAZA Terrazzo T08
REFERENCES
KAZA Bespoke Terrazzo countertop
REFERENCES
KAZA Bespoke Terrazzo tiles
For more information and enquiries: call +44 (0) 7884 565576 email to info@kaza.com www.kaza.com