Photography Courtesy of Shutterstock More than 500 years ago, Venetian builders in the Friuli region invented terrazzo in order to make use of marble remnants left over from posher projects. Drawing on ancient marble mosaic styles, these tradesmen began to set irregular fragments of discarded stone into clay to build…
When looked at individually, the nearly two dozen countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia that surround the Mediterranean Sea have wildly different design histories and aesthetics. However, as Mediterranean style began to gain popularity in North America from 1918 to 1940, designers and architects pulled inspiration from elements that were…
Photography Courtesy of United FabricsExplore Materials and Sample Before 2020, only specialists needed to know the ins and outs of cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. Now it is more important than ever before. The surfaces that we touch frequently in indoor spaces can harbor harmful microbes and toxins, turning them into…
When designers and other building professionals page through materials for project specifications, there’s a lot of information to sort through. In particular, information about a product’s sustainability and health effects can be easily misinterpreted amongst a wide agglomeration of labels, certifications, and declarations. How should designers parse through this information…
Photography Courtesy of Porcelanosa Sintered stones are expertly engineered with high-performance properties to provide exceptionally strong and stable surfaces. An innovative manmade material that can be used across an array of interior applications—from flooring and wall surfaces to countertops and cabinetry—sintered stone is turned to for its supremely strong performance…
Limestone is lauded for its lasting durability and versatility. Maintaining an enduring material history, the nuanced natural stone has been utilized for millenniums in the making of many architectural masterpieces. Storied limestone structures situated around the world have stood the test of time, demonstrating the distinct advantages achieved with its application.…
An essential aspect of many material specification methods involves a determination of durability and resistance to abrasion. Developed over 200 years ago, the Mohs scale of mineral hardness offers a straightforward system for testing the toughness of materials—including minerals, rocks, and gemstones—that roughly measures of the resistance of a smooth…
Photography Courtesy of Artistic TileExplore Materials and Sample Characterized by kaleidoscopic colors unfolding across undulating layers, onyx is a precious gemstone material that is imbued with intrigue. The lightweight and luminous stone has a long and rich history of use—its earliest appearances can be traced back to ancient Egypt and…
Marble (left) and Granite (right). Photography Courtesy of Arca Marble and granite are two highly sought-after surfacing materials armed with a timeless allure that elegantly adapts to almost any aesthetic from classic to contemporary. While granite and marble share many common characteristics, an understanding of their unique attributes is essential…
